(URGENT - comments due Aug 22 and they don't accept email or
overnight-express letters)
Publishers,
if you've ever used bookland.py, you may appreciate the value of free
software ("free as in freedom, not as in free beer").
The Library of Congress is about to require use of Internet Explorer
to do copyright preregistration. Mozilla, Netscape, etc. "may
experience problems" (translation: they will experience
problems). There is NO technical reason why ANY Government Agency
should resort to such a non-portable approach when dealing with the
public. The announcement, which came out on Aug 4, is at:
http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2005/70fr44878.html
Short and sweet:
"Today's notice seeks information as to whether persons filing the
electronic-only preregistration form prescribed by the Copyright
Office will experience difficulties if it is necessary to use
Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser in order to preregister a
work."
Note that there is ONLY electronic preregistration, so if you don't
have Explorer, you'll have to install it. If you have Explorer but
hate it, tough. If you run Unix/Linux/BSD, you'll simply be out of
luck.
Send your comments ASAP (ASAP!) to the address listed in that
announcement. Also, if you can, contact your Congressperson and/or
Senators, and ask them to inquire of the LC why they must proceed in
this user-hostile and discriminatory (not to mention anticompetitive)
manner. Explain that the Notice came out on August 4, comments are due
on Aug 22, so you need some answers quick. But don't wait for the
reply - send your comment right away. You can always follow up with
another.
To find your representatives: www.congress.org
thanks,
Judah
Judah Milgram [EMAIL PROTECTED]
College Park Press http://www.cgpp.com
P.O. Box 143, College Park MD, USA 20741
