Please forgive me, Jessica, for ranting first. And Chris, this isn't a judgement on you since you're just reporting the news. And definitely not about this listserv that allows various points of view. (Thanks, Gary!) And even the article that states the problems I'm about to emphasize. BUT!!!
I especially like that the fair use agreements are being done in agreement only with other librarians. They clearly state that rights-holders are not included in these discussion, because, heaven forbid, there might be another point of view. I'm sorry, I love Pat and what she does, but this is clearly stating that since everybody in this room agrees, it must be permissible. I'm *really* getting tired of the world saying it's okay to steal copyrighted material, because, well, we think the copyright laws are too restrictive. The government tells me that AK-47s are illegal to purchase (except in Nevada), but why shouldn't I own one since all my NRA friends at the bar say that I can. Has any academic (*anyone*?) actually done a study to prove that copyright laws are more restrictive than before? Outside of extending the copyright law by twenty years (and hell, I have scar tissue -- quite a few actually -- that's older than that) and allowing foreign copyright holders the right to their own copyrights, what *exactly* has become more restrictive??? I see a *lot* more films with borrowed and fair use material especially on television. I see a lot more access to films for free -- legal and otherwise. Almost everything can be seen on YouTube. I see a lot more films (on DVD) available to the classroom for $9.95 to $29.95 (sorry, Canada) rather than $500 to $2000. And I'll say the unthinkable -- no wonder why the studios are upset with librarians and educators. This is just another case of the latter espousing views that are completely subjective, completely one-sided, and completely antagonistic to a common solution. Maybe studios shouldn't be blamed for this DVD and BluRay crap they're hoisting on you guys, as wrong as it may be. And I remind you, I *love* libraries. I go to two or three different ones weekly. You can imagine what those guys in studios who don't read books (and there's quite a few) must feel when they see these articles. Dennis Milestone On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:29 AM, Chris McNevins <[email protected]>wrote: > Forwarded by a colleague….**** > > ** ** > > > http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/fair-use-guide-hopes-to-solve-librarians-vhs-cassette-problem > **** > > ** ** > > ________________________________________**** > > *Chris McNevins* | ACQUISITIONS COORDINATOR**** > > UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT | HOMER BABBIDGE LIBRARY**** > > 369 Fairfield Way Unit 2005AM | Storrs, CT 06269-2005 USA**** > > *PH*: 860-486-3842 | *FX*: 860-486-6493 | *EMAIL*: > [email protected]**** > > ________________________________________**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as > an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
