Responses from 83 of 210 universities indicated that 82.1% cover distance/online course materials in intellectual property policy; royalties are shared in a variety of ways; 41.9% divide royalties among departments/colleges and research offices; and 30.6% use royalties for further research or cost recovery. (SK)

The first paper discusses the factors involved in a decision to provide document delivery services, including user needs, competitive climate, business potential, fit with current business, and logistics of providing the service. The second reviews the kinds of additional products that can be developed as a byproduct of conventional database…

A court decision that a pioneering New York law illegally preempted federal law by forcing publication of standardized test material protected by federal copyright could undermine greater disclosure in standardized testing, but quick changes in testing practice are not expected. (MSE)

To avoid microcomputer software copyright infringement, administrators must be aware of the law, read the software agreements, maintain good records, submit all software registration cards, provide secure storage, post warnings, be consistent when establishing and enforcing policies, consider a site license, and ensure the legality of currently…

Discussion of current trends in distance education focuses on the use of compressed video and two-way video and audio configurations. Topics include planning and development strategies, cultivating a feeling of connectivity, guidelines for visual materials, communication between students and the instructor, copyrights, and suggestions for the…

Representatives of American publishers have agreed that an assertive new effort is needed to prevent unauthorized copying of electronic materials, particularly through computers linked to the World Wide Web. Copyright management systems are proposed as a means to provide protection for content of intellectual property and for on-line financial…

Provides an overview of material offered at seminars put on by the Video Education for Libraries Project. Discussion covers all aspects of collection development and video services policy including copyright considerations. The importance of independent film works for collections is emphasized. (EA)

Describes why developers of multimedia products face a more complex legal landscape than do developers of "few-media" products. Describes the laws that pertain to multimedia. Discusses how developers of multimedia products might walk the legal labyrinth and protect themselves and their companies from lawsuits. (SR)

Electronic data interchange (EDI) permits two parties to enter into a contract without the use of paper and human signatures, which are historically associated with commerce in goods and services. As federal legislation governing contractual information changes to accommodate electronic formats, provisions must be crafted in a technology-neutral…

Presents a series of library- and legal-related perspectives on video copyright, and then delineates strategies for clarifying the copyright law for both copyright holders and users. (CB)

Discusses microcomputer-based reformatting of text to help learners with disabilities. Highlights include letter size; spacing; copyright problems; expanding the target audience to make systems more cost effective; writing skills; voice input; and further enhancements, including networked systems and the use of hypertext. (14 references) (LRW)

Reviews the 1989 literature on reproduction of library materials under the following headings: Microforms in Libraries; Bibliographic Control; Micrographics Equipment; Micropublishing; Preservation Microfilming; Technical Production of Microforms; Micrographic Standards; Photocopiers and Photocopying; Telefacsimile; Audiovisual Collections; New…

This report of commercial Web sites which post class notes without faculty permission focuses on moral aspects, possible copyright violations, and potential lawsuits. Web site operators counter that the notes, taken by students, are "interpretations" of the class rather than verbatim transcripts. A few faculty are supportive of the Web sites. (DB)

Examines issues in the current copyright law, such as classroom and fair-use exemptions, which impede efforts by institutions of higher education to provide distance-education courses. Recommendations for amendation under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act are offered, and the competing interests of content providers and educators are noted. (DB)

Provides summaries of the presentations at the North Carolina Library Association's Biennial Conference, "Choose Quality, Choose Libraries," (Raleigh, NC, October 8-10, 1997). Some of the topics covered include library instruction, Internet access to public documents, outsourcing technical services, copyrights and the Internet, the…