Although some consider electronic publishing to be the wave of the future, publishers must first build an infrastructure of citations, copyrights, authentication, and preservation to make it work well. Consistency is a crucial consideration in making information and documents accessible, and significant resources must be dedicated to archiving…

With the maturation of the internet more and more colleges and universities are offering online courses. As these courses enter the mainstream, public policy issues are beginning to emerge. Many of these involve the tension between the "work for hire" doctrine and academic freedom that occurs when educational institutions offer these…

This hearing addressed Senate Bill 1384, which deals with the copyright issue and seeks to alter the 5-to-4 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Mills Music case. The question under consideration is whether the law should be made explicit to the effect that the class of intended beneficiaries of all royalties under the…

To examine the possible impact of the 1976 Copyright Act on the workings of copyright in the United States, this book outlines the historical development of the copyright scheme, looks at how the 1976 act deals with the doctrine of fair use, analyzes the nature and effect of the new act's exemptions from copyright, and explores ways in which…

Designed to provide a background for forthcoming changes, this bibliography lists published materials dealing with copyrights particularly as they apply to violation of the Copyright Act by technology such as photocopiers, computers, and videotape machines. Included are monographs, articles from legal journals, government publications, and legal…

The new copyright law specifically exempts some educational activities from infringement actions, but many educational uses of copyrighted works--particularly those resulting from modern technology--will continue to be judged on the basis of fair use. This comment focuses on what fair use means for educators. (Author/LBH)

Discusses the impact of changes in the copyright law on off-the-air videotaping of television programs. (KS)

Various legal methods, such as copyright, trade secret, and patent law, protect proprietary rights in computer software. Users of this software must respect these rights or face infringement lawsuits. (TE)

Examines some of the literary and legal implications of parody. Highlights include defining parody; legal and ethical issues, including copyright infringement; moral rights and wrongs; parody and fair use; the four-factor test regarding copyright; relevant court cases; and postmodern consequences, including authenticity. (LRW)

Discusses copyright issues pertaining to information use on the Internet. Topics include digital copyright interpretations; court rulings on copyright infringement; copyright advice from the Copyright Clearance Center; rights management models; technology as a solution; and developing corporate copyright policies. (LRW)

Examines the Commission of the European Communities' draft directive on database copyright. Components of the directive are discussed, including a definition of a database, databases protected as literary works under copyright law, piracy protection, fair use, and licensing requirements; and problems with the directive are described. (four…

Describes why developers of multimedia products face a more complex legal landscape than do developers of "few-media" products. Describes the laws that pertain to multimedia. Discusses how developers of multimedia products might walk the legal labyrinth and protect themselves and their companies from lawsuits. (SR)

Electronic data interchange (EDI) permits two parties to enter into a contract without the use of paper and human signatures, which are historically associated with commerce in goods and services. As federal legislation governing contractual information changes to accommodate electronic formats, provisions must be crafted in a technology-neutral…

Presents a series of library- and legal-related perspectives on video copyright, and then delineates strategies for clarifying the copyright law for both copyright holders and users. (CB)

This report of commercial Web sites which post class notes without faculty permission focuses on moral aspects, possible copyright violations, and potential lawsuits. Web site operators counter that the notes, taken by students, are "interpretations" of the class rather than verbatim transcripts. A few faculty are supportive of the Web sites. (DB)