This circular answers some of the questions that are frequently asked about copyright, a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to authors of "original works of authorship" including library, dramatic musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. The Copyright Act of 1976 (title 17 of the United States…

This circular answers some of the questions that are frequently asked about copyright, a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of "original works of authorship" including literary, dramatic musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. The Copyright Act of 1976 (title 17 of the United…

This article, written before report to Congress by Register of Copyrights was issued, examines whether balancing of rights of creators and needs of users has been accomplished by Copyright Revision Act of 1976, and reviews key issues in dispute between librarians and publishers over use of copyrighted materials in libraries. (EJS)

This hearing addressed Senate Bill 1384, which deals with the copyright issue and seeks to alter the 5-to-4 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Mills Music case. The question under consideration is whether the law should be made explicit to the effect that the class of intended beneficiaries of all royalties under the…

Photocopying guidelines of the 1976 amendments to the Copyright Act have been further legitimized by a 1982 settlement involving New York University. Important recent developments concerning videotape copyrights include the 1981 guidelines of the House Judiciary Committee and the 1984 United States Supreme Court case, "Sony Corporation v.…

Presents revision of Book Industry Systems Advisory Committee (BISAC) format designed specifically for electronic transmission of purchase orders for monograph or series titles combining fixed and variable length data fields which was approved in January 1983. Special characters, sample address descriptions, summary of fixed records, glossary, and…

Products liability law is examined in relation to whether Carter v. Rand McNally & Co. has precedential value or is merely an unusual aberration. The case involved a secondary school student, burned carrying out an experiment in a Rand McNally textbook, who was awarded $100,000. The book was deemed a "product." (MLW)

Based on a recent lawsuit involving Kinko's Graphics custom-made anthologies resembling university print shop copies, this article examines three liability questions pertaining to the copyright law's fair use standards and accompanying classroom guidelines. Basically, individual teachers must desist from assembling these anthologies without…

The Government Printing Office (GPO) pricing of publications sold to the public was reviewed in order to determine whether: (1) the August 1973 price increases embraced the same financial philosophy which had prevailed in the past and (2) the relationship between the pricing structure and the annual appropriation by the Congress had changed. It…

Reprography of musical works as covered by Copyright Law 1976 (section 108) and new law (PL94-553) is discussed. Historical interpretation and exclusion of music and copyright, impact of law on music libraries, and recommendations for revision of law by Music Library Association and Music Publisher's Association of America are highlighted. (EJS)

Discusses the 1976 copyright law with respect to its impact on videotex technology and addresses the problems of copyright for collections of data, exclusive rights of copyright holders, notice and deposit, and regulation. Three related court decisions are also examined. (Author/JJD)

Criteria for software resource centers drafted by the International Council for Computers in Education focus on the responsibilities of: (1) centers, which should serve as links between publishers and educators; (2) software publishers, who should assist educators in previewing instructional software before purchase; and (3) schools, which should…

Discusses five-year review of the issue of library reproduction of copyrighted works mandated by Section 108(i) of Copyright Act of 1976. Highlights include preparation for Register's report (advisory committee, hearings, King Research report, librarian/copyright proprietor meetings); findings; and recommendations (voluntary agreements and…

This hearing was held to discuss a proposal to restore a measure of equity and fairness to the copyright law. Under current law, authors whose works were created after January 1, 1978, receive a single term of copyright protection, extending for the life of the author, plus 50 years. But authors of pre-1978 works are only entitled to a 28-year…

Reviews attempts to revise present copyright law to resolve areas of conflict concerning fair use, place of consumer of copyrighted works, and control of misuse of technology. Highlights include the Register's Report and its effect, American Library Association's response, publishing industry recommendations, Copyright Office recommendations, and…