Digital Libraries

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©opyright

The issue of copyright for digital libraries is one os the most important complicated. The advent of computer technology has opened a new area in the judicial field termed "cyberlaw".

Betamax

The US Supreme court made a landmark decision in the Sony Betamax case that confirmed the right of "fair use". This makes it lawful for one to make copies of copyrighted material for private, noncommercial use. When applied to digital libraries the application of fair use becomes a grey area. Since most digital libraries are in the public domain there is the question of whether a copy of the work transmitted to a private user constitutes fair use. Some authors and publishers will grant permission for usage, but may place restrictions on a work. Most digital libraries at this time only implement one level of copyright protection. Until digital libraries adopts standard mechanisms for implementing copyright, many authors will continue not to publish in an electronic format. Digital library research is being undertaken to address this shortcoming. Systems for encrypting publications in digital libraries exist and are being further developed. In addition, Internet commerce systems have developed to the point where didgital libraries can consider implementing online publication purchasing of a softcopy. In effect creating a commercial bookstore for copyrighted works.

Privacy

It is technically easy to track a user's progress through a hypermedia space. Web browsers and many sites do this as an aid to the users. However it is against the law in many areas for libraries to divulge what particular patrons read. The majority of digital libraries currently are in compliance through simply not storing individual reading information.

Resources

• The NII Copyright Protection Act
• Copyright and Multimedia
• The Creative Incentive Coalition
• The SPA (Software Publishers Association)
• Copyright Management Center
• Intellectual Property Law Hotlinks