[LM_NET] GEN: Companies move to eliminate fair use

[Vicki Sherouse <vsherouse@MCPS.K12.MT.US>]

I am very, very concerned with some of the copyright moves by companies
that have been mentioned on the list lately.  One, Discovery Channel
denying fair use to schools for its videos, and Two, books at Sam's Club
(?) contained in wrappers denying purchase for libraries.  It is obvious
that corporations hate the fact that libraries exist because one book is
purchased and read by many people.  These moves are an obvious attempt
to deny schools and libraries the right to purchase normally priced or
discounted materials and then lend them out.  The next step will be that
we will have to purchase "public lending or performance rights" for all
our materials.  As librarians we must not let this trend go
unchallenged.  ALA needs to research these occurrences and begin a
public information campaign designed to embarrass the companies who are
doing this.  Further, ALA needs to contact the appropriate members of
Congress to begin work on legislation to outlaw such practices if
needed.  Libraries are already closing for lack of funds (Salinas, a
recent example), if we have to pay new, higher prices for the "right" to
lend materials, we will be out of business.  A first step for all of us
should be to write to Discovery Channel to protest this move and refuse
to buy their materials at the higher price. A second step is for those
of us who are members of ALA to ask them to look into this.  And
finally, we should all be posting to the list and ALA any similar
examples as we find them.

Vicki Sherouse
Librarian
Sentinel High School
Missoula, MT
vsherouse at mcps.k12.mt.us
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