This report accompanies H.R. 897, the Copyright Reform Act of 1993. The bill, intended to amend title 17, United States Code, to modify certain recordation and registration requirements, to establish copyright arbitration royalty panels to replace the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, and for other purposes, is favorably reported by the Committee on the…

This paper examines the third fair use standard in section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act--"the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole"--as it applies to copying for extended classroom uses such as library reserve. The guidelines are interpreted in terms of amount, substantiality,…

This study analyzed the knowledge levels of Ohio's postsecondary educators regarding copyright and copyright related issues. A stratified random sample of 62 postsecondary educators from public and private colleges who taught Web-based courses participated in the study. The study used two instruments: a copyright questionnaire about knowledge of…

Examines issues related to copyright and how they affect the creation, protection, and distribution of multimedia materials. Topics discussed include a definition of copyright, the relevance of copyright, the concept of fair use, derivative and collective works, copyright and constitutional law, and information guides to copyright issues. (10…

Contains two articles: (1) excerpts from testimony by the chairperson of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) regarding copyright law revisions; and (2) a statement by the Council on Library Resources (CLR) Board of Directors regarding the Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights' report on copyright law and…

As educators grapple with how best to combat plagiarism in the Internet age, several high school students are suing a company that many districts and schools have hired to help them reduce such cheating. The lawsuit alleges that the company is violating the high school students' rights under U.S. copyright law. The lawsuit was filed by four…

This month, leaders of two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives sent letters warning of an epidemic of online music and movie piracy to 19 colleges, singling out those schools that, in the eyes of entertainment-industry officials, have been unable to stop students from illegally downloading music and movies. Enclosed with each message…

Like most institutions that have received copyright-infringement notices from the entertainment industry, Stanford University has a straightforward process for dealing with the complaints. Campus officials identify students accused of piracy, ask them to delete the offending material from their computers, and disconnect from the campus network…

Examines some of the literary and legal implications of parody. Highlights include defining parody; legal and ethical issues, including copyright infringement; moral rights and wrongs; parody and fair use; the four-factor test regarding copyright; relevant court cases; and postmodern consequences, including authenticity. (LRW)

Examines the Commission of the European Communities' draft directive on database copyright. Components of the directive are discussed, including a definition of a database, databases protected as literary works under copyright law, piracy protection, fair use, and licensing requirements; and problems with the directive are described. (four…

During the period in which Duane Webster led the Association for Research Libraries (ARL), powerful commercial interests sought for their own financial purposes the information resources essential for providing education and performing research. Juxtaposed was the Internet with its inherent capacity to democratizing these resources. Commercial…

Explains how to obtain official copyright registration for an original work. Describes how to contact the Copyright Office at the Library of Congress; what can be registered; what forms are needed; when the work receives copyright registration; and notification of registration. (LRW)

This article reports on the withdrawal of some universities' support of a music industry's campaign against music piracy on their campuses. Talk to the chief information officer at just about any American university, and he will probably say that his institution has bent over backward to help the Recording Industry Association of America curb…