Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

On 8/11/98, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> I don't think you can foster creativity without commercial investment
> and viability -- unless you pay the creators from some other source.
> Then you unleash the anti-free speech demons as demonstrated by Sen.
> Helms and the Soviets who historically demanded full control. In short,
> the non-commercial alternative risks stifling creativity and free
> speech...

     Academics are paid from another source and get almost no compensation from publishing. Tenure provides protection from the "free speach demons" In fact, while I would not say that there are no free speach problems on campus, it is a far more free place than most. If we could only get academics to use non-commercial alternatives, or at least not give their total copyright to the publishers, we might be able to save the communication system that has fostered big science in the U.S.                                 

Bert R. Boyce, Professor & Dean
School of Library & Information Science
Louisiana State University
267 Coates Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

     (504)388-3158
FAX: (504)388-4581
LSBOYC[_at_]LSUVM.sncc.lsu.edu Received on Thu Aug 13 1998 - 19:31:42 GMT