[Web4lib] Wikipedia vs Britannica

[Patricia F Anderson]

Wow. OK, for the record, I personally support creative commons (to the 
dismay of my publishers). I personally believe that the current use of 
copyright law is 180 degrees opposed from the original intent of those who 
conceived of the concept of copyright. I also believe that the closest 
thing we have to the original intent is shareware.

Now, aside from that, whether I agree with it or not, I have made a point 
of trying to learn at least the basics about what *is* the current law and 
what expectations go along with it. I do not believe in anarchy, but in 
due process -- that if I disagree with a law or policy, then my duty is to 
work to the best of my ability toward changing that law or policy, working 
through the appropriate channels for creating change. Very rarely is the 
best process for change outright disobedience. Rosa Parks is a brilliant 
example of an exception. I have friends who disagree with me and believe 
that outright disobedience is the *preferred* way to change a flawed law 
or policy. My preferred approach is more Gandhian in philosophy.

We have already noticed in the Google discussions extensive evidence of 
the litiginous nature of many publishers. Nature is big enough to be a 
bully if they want to be (not that they would or will, I simply don't know 
enough). From my point of view, putting something that a big name 
publisher considers their property into public view is simply asking for 
trouble. It places not only the original poster at risk, but also the list 
management. I don't feel it is courteous or fair to put other people at 
risk without their consent aforehand.

Yes, copyright in its current incarnation is one screwed up concept. No, 
that doesn't make it right to ignore it just because we as individuals 
disagree, especially when it places others at risk. That sort of logic, 
taken to an extreme, leads to vigilanteism, lynching, slander and other 
provocative and unproductive outbreaks of individualism irregardless of 
its impact on the community.

In this circumstance, where an article was wanted to be viewed by people 
who didn't have access, I would recommend several possible solutions, 
including (but not limited to):
  - ask your local librarian,
  - interlibrary loan,
  - ask the original poster offlist if they'd send a copy just to you (not 
to the list),
  - ask a friend or faculty member if they have a copy.

Firmly believing there *is* a middle ground ...

Patricia Anderson, pfa at umich.edu

"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call 
themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at 
once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government 
would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it." 
Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, <http://eserver.org/thoreau/civil1.html>