Copyright Clashes on Campus

Just as I often find many articles relevant to the library profession in Wired magazine, I also make sure to read a current copy of Information Today. Both of these publications always have something in them that is educating, entertaining, and interesting.

In a short article in the May 2007 issus of Information Today, K. Matthew Danes recaps and summarizes some of the current battles concerning copyright on college and university campuses. Of concern to many librarians, Danes reports that the issue of electronic reserves has developed into a contentious one.

As many other types of digital media have made there way into e-reserves, including video and audio, the boundaries of so-called "fair use" have blurred. As institutions have grappled with this issue, a watchdog group, the Association of American Publishers has taken exception to some e-reserve systems, including the University of California-San Diego and Cornell. The AAP claimed the systems infringed copyright.

As libraries struggle with preserving and archiving many different formats of information, and also providing access, the concerns about copyright are not about to disappear. The issue of copyright infringement will continue to be a challenge.

The information contained in this blog post can be found in "Copyright Clashes on Campus," Technology Today, May 2007, 24(5), 19-20.

Additional resources:

Association of American Publishers Copyright
Association of American Publishers Copyright Resources
Copyright Clearance Center