In this copyright infringment suit, the plaintiff (Williams & Wilkins Company) alleges that the defendent (Department of Health, Education and Welfare) through its agencies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has infringed plaintiff's copyrights in medical journals by making unauthorized…

The fair use doctrine of copyright law is analyzed in view of its theoretical foundations. It is suggested that the foundation for building a legal defense around fair use must be that the particular use in question is, on the balance, in the greater public interest in developing science and useful art. (LBH)

The judicial doctrine of fair use is reviewed and an approach is suggested for making fair use determinations in court cases involving a copyright owner's exclusive rights. For journal availability see HE 509 045. (LBH)

Responds to the Alex Caughran article on copyright law, pointing out the significance of the fair use'' provisions in both the present and proposed laws. See also CS 705 949. (RD)

Evaluates current copyright law on the basis of United States court decisions handed down in cases specifically related to copyright. See also CS 705 950 and CS 705 951. (RB)

Examines the issues involved in Williams and Wilkins Co. v. United States in which a Court of Claims reversed the trial commissioner's decision that a library's distributing photocopied reprints of medical journal articles was copyright infringement. Argues that publishers of medical journals must be granted copyright protection against library…

A clear description of what educators, administrators, or students may and may not copy under the various provisions of the Copyright Law Revision of 1976 is attempted, but the author concludes that the language of the law itself makes such a description impossible. (LBH)

Reports on a recent decision of the United States Court of Claims in Washington which permits the National Institutes of Health library and the National Library of Medicine to photocopy copyrighted scientific articles for researchers without paying royalties to Williams and Wilkins Company, a medical publisher. (JR)

Examines the nature of copyright, the current status of computer software in the context of copyright, and the applicability of the "Fair Use Doctrine" and "Classroom Guidelines" to instructional software and video as determined by relevant statute and case law. (Author/AEF)