NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/bit/listserv/cwisl/1285

Text File | 1993-01-28 | 2.4 KB | 47 lines

Comments: Gated by [e-mail]
Path: sparky!uunet!uvaarpa!darwin.sura.net!paladin.american.edu!auvm!SIUCVMB.BITNET!GE0515
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cwis-l
Date:         Thu, 28 Jan 1993 11:49:58 -0600
Sender:       "Campus-Wide Information Systems" <[e-mail]>
From:         "Terry D. Mathias" <[e-mail]>
Subject:      Copyright and CWIS
Comments: To: [e-mail]
Lines: 35

Interestingly enough, I had a similar discussion recently with a
librarian - my wife.  In general, obtaining something from a CWIS
ought not be much different from checking something out of a library.

But there are libraries and there are libraries.  It depends on whether
you belong to the same "jurisdiction" -- for lack of a better word here --
as the source of funding for the library.  If you go to a university
library, you need to be a member of that university community in order
to have the privilege of checking out materials from that library.
Similarly, a resident of the city to check out the materials from the
public library.

Yes, I know . . . we are talking about copyright, not access or
circulation.  But this leads to the difficult point which we were
not able to resolve for now:  If you access materials from a CWIS,
is it similar to checking something out of the library  OR  is it
similar to going to the library to read something there, but not
actually checking it out?  In most "jurisdictions," there is little
concern about use of the materials by "outsiders" so long as the
person doesn't want the privilege of checking it out.

We are inclined to think that the copyright question comes into
play in much the same way.  Is the CWIS user just "reading at the
library" or is the user "checking out the material"  or is the
user making the equivalent of a "photocopy" of the material?
Our laws seem to address only the last point.

Think about it . . . what is the analagous use?  From there, you
may decide whether having computer access is the equivalent of
having a library card  OR  of using a copier in the library
OR  of walking in the library door to read something.
~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~ <usual disclaimer about opinions, etc.> ~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~
Terry Mathias, Office of University Relations       Phone: [phone]
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale       BITNET: GE0515@SIUCVMB
Carbondale, Illinois  62901            INTERNET: [e-mail]