----- "Shyam Mani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 8/10/07, John Thng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Can they only be read using their computers in their premises? >
Libraries are usually granted special exemptions under Copyright law. This does not of course mean that Libraries can freely reproduce and redistribute Copyrighted content. It therefore makes sense that they will only have the content accessible at terminals in libraries. It would be a shame though if they intend to DRM or otherwise lock down the data, since this would be wholly unnecessary. Can you imagine only being able to borrow a book from the library if you owned a proprietary set of reading glasses which are biometrically fingerprinted to your head, and would descramble the words only for you to read if you don't have any outstanding library fines ? ooohh! ooohh! oohh! My Idea! I'm Patenting it... stop reading! go away! sorry, I have another, evil, freedom-hating alter-ego here in my head. :) As I was saying, having the digitised, archived data available in a clean unencumbered format would make future datamining by researchers so much easier and more accessible. I think Singapore/NLB has a unique opportunity here, let's hope they don't blow it. > I'm pretty sure they'd do something like that. I was a little shocked > to see that to read the Straits Times online (when a lot of > newspapers > online are free), one has to pay. Rumours are that they are hemorrhaging massively at the ST Online division because subscription numbers are low and dwindling. Has no-one learnt anything from the debacle at Slate.com ? *sigh* Cheers Stephan _______________________________________________ Slugnet mailing list [email protected] http://www.lugs.org.sg/mailman/listinfo/slugnet
