[Foundation-l] Fwd: [BP] BRITISH LIBRARY SAYS COPYRIGHT LAW NEEDS UPDATING

[Erik Moeller]

Upper case original. Good news.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Hart <hart at pglaf.org>
Date: Sep 27, 2006 3:11 PM
Subject: [BP] BRITISH LIBRARY SAYS COPYRIGHT LAW NEEDS UPDATING
To: Book People <bookpeople at pobox.upenn.edu>


The British Library has called for a wide-scale revision of existing
copyright law, which, it said, inadequately addresses digital content,
putting too much control into the hands of content producers and
owners. Lynne Brindley, chief executive of the British Library, took
aim at digital rights management (DRM) technology in particular, saying
that it allows content producers to prevent legitimate uses of content,
such as for academic purposes, for archival efforts, or for making
content available to people with disabilities. Calling the problem a
global issue, Brindley said that without "a serious updating of
copyright law to recognize the changing technological environment, the
law becomes an ass." The Open Rights Group supported the library's
call for revising copyright law, saying that the current situation
"allows publishers to write whatever license they like, which is what
is happening now." The British Library also said the question of
orphaned works should be addressed--works whose proper copyright owners
cannot be located easily or at all.
CNET, 25 September 2006
http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6119043.html



from Edupage via today's Project Gutenberg Weekly Newsletter

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-- 
Peace & Love,
Erik

Member, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

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