Re: Emory HTML claim (was Re: Michigan case draws )

From: Donald Berman <berman[_at_]ccs.neu.edu>
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 09:34:35 -0500 (EST)

Tim writes,
>
> I see no reason why it should not also be an adaptation or derivative
> work (other than legislative intent in Australia and the UK).
> There are a number of formatting decisions to be made in laying out
> the HTML and considerable effort expended to either write the
> software to convert the PD text version into HTML or hand mark it.
> An adaptation of a PD work would have very limited scope for
> infringement and I see no potential for abuse particularly if the PD
> work is available in another electronic form allowing independent
> creation to be cost effective.

I find this troubling given that most HTML coversions are no doubt about as seamless as conversions for ASCII text to MS Word or Wordperfect. I just don't see the originality in converting ASCII text documents into various machine readable formats without any real effort. If he used unique cross-referencing links, stc. then one would have a different case.

  Don Berman --  

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Received on Fri Mar 15 1996 - 14:36:58 GMT

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