Norman mentions that academic journals can enforce tiered pricing by limiting sources and Susan mentions that popular magazines don't always have this option. While I understand Anthony's point about pricing models for journals, I feel this conversation has drifted pretty far afield from the original inquiry. So, let's try a thought experiment using *Rolling Stone* as the example:
Let's say that a library purchases a subscription to a popular magazine like *Rolling Stone* via Amazon and, for the sake of argument, let's assume it is perfectly legal for them to do so. Now, let's say Jann Wenner writes a letter to said library telling them (erroneously) that it is not legal for them to subscribe to *Rolling Stone* in this manner. Instead, the library must pay X amount of dollars to keep the issues. This strong-arm tactic by Mr. Wenner would be what's called "copyfraud"--a term coined to describe, among other things, imposing restrictions beyond what Copyright law allows. (For more on this concept, see here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=787244). We have discussed tiered pricing over and over on the list. I'm not opposed to tiered pricing when a distributor is the sole source of a title. I even agree with Anthony's statement that it would be honorable to buy only institutional copies if one's budget will allow for it. But I am strongly against rights holders misrepresenting the law to imply a threat of impending legal action. To me, such behavior seems similar to infringement in its potential to upset the balance that Copyright law aims to provide. Brian Boling Media Services Librarian Temple University Libraries On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 2:29 PM, Susan Albrecht <[email protected]> wrote: > And for those journals we are likely to still get in print only – popular > titles such as Rolling Stone or Time – we pay the same rate as an > individual would. > > 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.
