Gray Hats (more copyright)

[Jenny Levine]

Lloyd Davidson wrote:
> The effect of
> these restrictive systems on scholarly communication is potentially
> devastating, yet libraries will have little say as to their implementation
> and general application to traditional library materials.

	I agree with Lloyd that Napster is not to blame, although it did hasten the
move by publishers to lock down their content as much as possible.  *Every*
librarian needs to be following DMCA and its implications because we are in
danger of losing our access to digital information.  For a too alarmist but
thought-provoking take on what could happen, read "A Love Song for Napster:
Imagine what could happen to democracy if the courts kill off this popular
software" from February's "Discover" magazine.  Just substitute the word
"libraries" for "democracy" and you get a sense of why librarians need to be at
the forefront of this debate.

http://www.discover.com/feb_01/featnapster.html
"The alternative to allowing free file sharing à la Napster is to enforce a
frightening level of control of information movement."
 
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Jenny Levine				125 Tower Drive
Internet Development Specialist		Burr Ridge, IL 60521
Suburban Library System			+1 (630) 734 5141
http://www.sls.lib.il.us/		levinej at sls.lib.il.us
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