Libraries and Netflix — Questionable Borrowing Practices From People Who Know From Borrowing
Libraries publicize their use of Netflix to save money on acquiring digital video for patrons, opening a potentially costly can of worms.
The Ethics of Versions: Why Buying One Experience Doesn’t Permit You All Experiences
The Ethicist argues that pirating an e-book is ethical because once you buy a book in any form, you have the right to that book in every form.
Money and Motivation: Will Content Survive the Age of Sharing and Collaboration?
The age of collaboration indicates some adjacent sources of value are emerging. Since adjacency is relative, how can publishers ensure that the central pieces remain?
Are Google and Microsoft Squaring Off Over Public Domain Works?
Why Google apparently gives government documents more protections than 19th century texts is just one of the puzzles in their usage guidelines.
An Oxford-style Debate at PSP 2010: A Chicago-style Hot Dog and Copyright Law
An Oxford-style debate about the role of copyright law was held at the 2010 PSP. It involved interactive polling and a lively discussion.
Going Legit: The Difficult Path from Piracy to Partnership
Though social networking websites continue to proliferate, turning them into sustainable, revenue-generating businesses is still a difficult prospect. For sites based on the illegal distribution of copyrighted material, the process is even more difficult. Is it possible for a pirate to become a respected member of the business community?
Publishing in the Google Ecosystem
Complaints against Google miss the point — it’s the Google Era, and publishers who work well with this major upstart have plenty to look forward to.
John Wilbanks: It’s the Customer, Not the Container — SSP IN Keynote
John Wilbanks from Creative Commons tells us to stop concentrating on the container and begin concentrating on the customer.
The Google Books Settlement–What Did You Choose?
The Google Books Settlement deadline is upon us. What did you choose?
Deep Links and Commercial Use of Content
A Trojan horse argument about links misses the point — copyright and contracts reach farther.
Free Digital Textbooks Win in California
An initiative to see if free K-12 textbooks in math and science could exist, California tested the waters. The results have been released. They’re surprising, and may portend changes for educational publishers.
$80,000 per Song, and Perceptions of Copyright
Two court decisions assign enormous fines for infringing copyright by sharing songs online. Is this a sign that the public is not as jaded about copyright as we’ve been led to believe?
Will Feudalism Fade from Knowledge Exchange?
Feudalism was a necessary step in social organization, but is it the end-state for academic organization? A number of related events this past weekend make me think not.
Stealing Culture: Plagiarism, Music, and Text
Lawsuits against British rock band, Coldplay, illustrate the blurred distinction between inspiration and theft.
Open Access Voted Down at Maryland
Academic freedom cited as main counter-argument.