Re: Copyright Extension Bill Passes Congress

From: Bert Boyce <lsboyc[_at_]lsuvm.sncc.lsu.edu>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 14:52:37 -0500

On 10/18/98, Edward Barrow <edward[_at_]plato32.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Bert Boyce <lsboyc[_at_]lsuvm.sncc.lsu.edu> wrote:
> >
> > IMHO this disscussion once again points out the need for
> > different treatment of learned literature, whose prime use is for
> > academic and research purposes and commercial material upon which
> > the authors rightly expect to receive meaningful compensation. I
> > don't much care if Sonney Bono's estate gets royalities for "I Got
> > You Babe" forever minus one year, but I sure want their very
> > limited audience to be able to freely use my published books in
> > any way they choose from the day I publish them. Unfortunately
> > my publisdher does not agree. There really is a big difference.
>
> I don't see that this necessitates any different treatment under
> copyright law. If that's what you as the author want, so be it.
> Copyright gives you that right. You may of course have assigned it
> to a publisher, but copyright law did not force you to do so.

     Again, unfortunately, my employer expects my books to be published either by a traditional publishing house or an academic press, if I am to receive recognition for having produced them. Nearly every one of these will require assignment. Since I care very much what my reputation is with the University, I am stuck, at least in the short term with traditional publishing, and the copyright assignment policies that are normally required. This reputation is enhanced by the widest possible distribution, but legitimized by traditional publishing. It is not the copyright law, per se, but the fact that my incentive to produce is independent of it, and my ability to produce is dependent upon it, that puts me in this position. Would it be better to change the academic incentive system rather than the copuright law? Perhaps so, but it may be more difficult.

                                                BRB

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

     (225)388-3158
FAX: (225)388-4581
LSBOYC[_at_]LSUVM.sncc.lsu.edu Received on Mon Oct 19 1998 - 19:50:47 GMT