Dear Harry
Wouldn't having copyright insurance be an invitation for people to just blatantly
breach copyright?
"It doesn't matter if I copy this illegally because if I get caught, the school has
copyright
insurance and someone else will pick up the tab!" Apart from sending the cost of
insurance premiums
through the roof, where would ethics end up?
It would be on a par with having shoplifting insurance - would paying a $100
premium give you the
right to steal whatever takes your eye from shops?
Copyright was introduced so that authors of works could make an income from their
work. The
underlying question is "Is what I am doing preventing an author from deriving
income from this?"
That's why it is illegal to convert your videotapes to DVD format, (referring to a
question earlier
this week) because the author (or publisher, depending on the contract) holds the
right to make such
copies and derive income from them.
Ordinary authors of works make precious little in royalties (usually about 10% of
the recommended
retail price) - we need to protect their right to earn the little they do.
I am a pretty generous soul and usually share my work freely, but even I was ticked
off when I
accidentally discovered an article I wrote for Organisation A was copied in full on
Organisation Z's
website without even acknowledgement, let alone payment! When I wrote to
Organisation Z they told
me they got it through a syndication service; Organisation A say they no nothing
about such a
service and the service itself is not replying. Such theft happens already - having
an insurance
premium that somehow makes it legal is an anathema.
Barbara
Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
T. 61 2 6205 6162
F. 61 2 6205 7242
E. barbara@iimetro.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
"Together we learn from each other."
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