Hi everyone, Long time reader, and though I haven't posted much before, I can't let some of these comments pass unremarked.
I trust the irony of Ms. Rosner complaining about the "demonization" of rights holders while lumping "internet pirates" and "library groups" in the same sentence was intentional, or, as Mr. Doros does, by stating that the ARL group is out to "steal" copyrighted content. No demonization going on there, no sir! At my institution - and I suspect at many of yours - we pay thousands of dollars each year to the Copyright Clearance Center for their annual license. We routinely purchase PPR for films we show to the public on campus and for additional coverage when necessary to cover ILL, reserve material, etc. On the other hand, we also deal regularly with rights holders claiming, for example, that we need to purchase PPR when our use is clearly allowed in the face-to-face teaching exemption, so perhaps a bit of skepticism on the part of libraries towards rights-holders' motives is warranted. I also have to admire Mr. Doros' glossing over of the matter of extending copyright protection by 20 years by comparing it to the age of his scar tissue. Heck, what's another 20-some years? By this "reasoning," why not compare the extension to the age of California's bristlecone pine (ca. 4,500 years) to illustrate what a mere drop in the geological bucket 90+ years is? So what if the largest moneyed interests (e.g. Disney) can drive public policy regarding fair use and public domain? No problem, stop yer whining! So what if contract law is gradually trumping the fair uses carved out for educators, critics, journalists, etc. in the copyright law? Got a problem with that? Then don't sign (or click through) the contract! It's these sorts of statements that make me think perhaps the ARL group referenced in the Chronicle article has exactly the right approach: libraries and librarians should figure out fair and equitable best-practice scenarios on our own, and then defend it as necessary in court. Even if a library loses, the remedies are unlikely to be terribly burdensome so long as the library acted in good faith, did their homework/research, and attempts to conform to the spirit of the law. Fortunately for us, libraries are sympathetic defendants, folks. Terry Simpkins Director, Research and Collection Services Library & Information Services Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753 (802) 443-5045 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jessica Rosner Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 12:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Videolib] FW: Chronicle of Higher Ed blog post about a Fair-Use guide that "hopes to solve Librarians' VHS-Cassette Problem" Thanks Dennis I am tired out by this. Everyone from internet pirates to major library organizations want to demonize "rights holders" as greedy and unworthy of having their rights protected because everything should be available at no cost ( pirates) or little cost ( library groups). On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 12:13 PM, Dennis Doros <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) [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.
