As we have throughout the association's history, we focused in 2011 on multiple initiatives--all designed to further, support, and communicate the important work that psychologists do. This year we had the benefit of APA's first-ever strategic plan as well as funding for the following seven initiatives that are specifically designed to execute the…

As educators grapple with how best to combat plagiarism in the Internet age, several high school students are suing a company that many districts and schools have hired to help them reduce such cheating. The lawsuit alleges that the company is violating the high school students' rights under U.S. copyright law. The lawsuit was filed by four…

Judge Claude M. Hilton, of the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, in March found that scanning the student papers for the purpose of detecting plagiarism is a "highly transformative" use that falls under the fair-use provision of copyright law. He ruled that the company "makes no use of any work's particular expressive or creative…

Discusses natural language retrieval systems, focusing on West Publishing Company's WIN (Westlaw Is Natural) system used with its case law database. Information retrieval models, the advantages and disadvantages of natural language retrieval, and the use of the approach by Congressional Quarterly's Washington Alert, Personal Librarian, and other…

This paper describes the characteristics of a computerized information retrieval system which could be used by attorneys engaged in such complex litigation as (1) cases which involve multi-district litigation; (2) cases involving complex issues of fact, as in regulatory agency actions; (3) cases involving a large number of documents; and (4) cases…

Discusses computer use in practice of trademark law by following adoption, filing, and prior use of the trademark "Aspen" (for a fruit juice drink). Databases searched to track previous use of mark, trace possible conflicts, and assist in their resolution are mentioned. Database chart and list of vendors is included. (EJS)

Many employers in the United States have been initiating or expanding policies requiring background checks of prospective employees. The ability to perform such checks has been abetted by the growth of computerized databases and of commercial enterprises that facilitate access to personal information. Employers now have ready access to public…

This discussion of copyright protection for computer programs focuses on the "first sale doctrine" and "shrink wrap" licenses, copyright of databases, copyright ownership, and copyright notices. (EM)

Discusses the impact of digital technology on copyright issues. Topics include the balance between copyright holders and users; pending amendments to the Copyright Act; legislation relating to databases; copyright regulations and reports; court cases; and future possibilities that special librarians should be aware of. (LRW)

Provides an overview of the legal nature of copyright, its history, and present status. Current issues of concern to information professionals are then discussed, including reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material, interlibrary loans, the "Five-Year Review" of the current law, technology, nonprint materials, and databases.…

Examines the issue of whether or not federal government-generated databases reside in the public domain. Discusses a 1973 Supreme Court decision (Williams & Wilkins v. The United States), the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, and terms and conditions listed on various government databases. (MES)

Discusses how a Supreme Court decision last year in "The New York Times Company v. Jonathan Tasini" has led publishers to make massive purges of archival material in newspaper databases, rendering them unreliable for many scholars. (EV)

This sixth edition of the State Governance Report summarizes the most relevant issues, legislative proposals, and proposed policies facing public higher education and its governance and oversight. The majority of coverage is devoted to the current or just recently completed 2009 legislative sessions. Other issues covered in this report include…

Considers the future of copyright in an electronic environment due to the ease with which materials can be copied. Discusses relevant legal cases; reproductive rights organizations; the role of contracts; databases; European Union initiatives; and conflict of laws. Concludes that increased owner-user cooperation is needed if copyright is to…

Defines the issue of information liability as it applies to electronic information and suggests ways in which the issue can be addressed and resolved. Discussion of the marketing and legal aspects of the question includes impact of the Dun & Bradstreet Inc. vs. Greenmoss Builders Inc. ruling on libel litigation. (EM)