Re: Author's Rights

At 10:50 AM 4/9/96, Martha Luehrmann wrote:
>
> We need some way to control and charge for minor uses of
> materials or portions of materials, like picking up a quote off
> the internet, playing a soundbite, running a piece of software,
> or showing some or all of a picture.

While I agree with almost everything Martha wrote, I have to take issue with this snippet. It is just these minor uses that should be de- or unregulated, as they involve hardly any economic loss to creators, while imposing major inconvenience and surprise costs to the general public only seeking information. It is the major uses, such as wholesale quotation, flat out copying and misappropriation of secondary rights a la the Times case that should be the focus of copyright protection for electronic means.

• Vance R. Koven phone: (617) 482-3852 *
• Attorney at Law fax: (617) 482-4972 *
• 20 Park Plaza Ste 520 net: vrkoven[_at_]world.std.com *
• Boston, MA 02116 *

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