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                        JeffNEWS, December 13, 1994
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Library Symposium Explores Timely Issues of Copyright and
Electronic Communications
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As part of its Centennial Symposia Series, Scott Memorial Library 
sponsored a symposium on copyright issues, with special relevance to health 
care and the rapidly evolving world of electronic communication.

The symposium, "`Copyright: Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Sciences 
Communication," was moderated by Edward W. Tawyea, University librarian and 
director of academic information services and research. In introducing 
three guest panelists. A central issue is to fairly balance the need to 
protect the rights of the creators of copyrighted information, such as 
authors and scientists, with the need to protect the rights of users of 
such information, such as teachers and librarians.


Unprecedented Electronic Uses Causing Complexity
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Causing much complexity is the advent and proliferation of electronic 
means of distributing information, Mr. Tawyea told an audience of 25 
Jeffersonians from the academic, research, clinical and information sectors 
of the University.  

Of particular import are the increasing number and uses of information 
stored on CD-ROM discs or transmitted over computer-linked "information 
highways" such as the Internet. Both phenomena are without precedent in 
society, contributing to numerous issues involving copyright ownership of 
information, fair use of such information, and uncertain implications for 
an uncharted future.


Practical Guidelines on Copyright Issues
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Still, much knowledge and experience is already at hand, and practical 
guidelines are available, which the three panelists shared with the 
audience.

   o Rights of creator/owner stronger since 1976. Victor S. Perlman, Esq., 
     a copyright attorney with the firm of Clark Ladner Fortenbaugh & Young, 
     summarized major differences between the copyright law of 1909 and the new 
     law of 1976 that made significant changes. Probably the biggest change is 
     that the 1976 law generally presumes the creator of a work to be its owner. 
     By comparison, the 1909 law generally favored the person (sponsor) paying a 
     commission to create the work to be its owner.  

A major effect of strengthening the rights of a creator/owner, as the 
1976 law has done, is to complicate how the law applies to "fair use" of 
copyrighted material, particularly in academic and library settings.

   o Uses in teaching settings. Lenore H. Forsted, Esq., assistant 
     University counsel, reviewed numerous practical guidelines for using 
     copyrighted material fairly and effectively in teaching settings, while 
     still conforming to the spirit and letter of the law. Teachers, for 
     example, can use a "decision tree" to determine such fair use criteria as 
     numbers of copies to distribute, frequency of use and whether the use is 
     planned or spontaneous.

   o Uses in library settings. Living and working with copyright issues in 
     the burgeoning world of electronic information can become very complicated 
     in a library setting, whose main mission is to disseminate, not restrict, 
     information.

Barbara S. Shearer, MLS, associate director for public services, Scott 
Memorial Library, reviewed for the group her sometimes frustrating efforts 
to "download" information from the Internet while still abiding by 
copyright guidelines that admittedly are in a rapidly evolving state of 
flux regarding "fair use" in electronic media.

   o Advice for writers/scientists. The panelists' presentations stimulated 
     numerous questions from the involved audience, including "When should I 
     copyright my work?" The legal answer is that your creating the work 
     automatically copyrights it.  However, you can take two recommended 
     safeguards. Properly display a copyright notice on your work, and register 
     it with the US Copyright Office in Washington, DC. The latter requires 
     filing an application and a nominal fee.

The copyright situation is changing hourly. Members of the educational 
and medical communities should best "stay tuned" to this evolving process.


Copyright Guide to Software Uses Available from DIS
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The copyright law is very specific about when it is appropriate, ethical 
and legal to copy software and when it is not, reports Maureen C. Owens, 
assistant director, client services and administration, department of 
information systems (DIS), in the November issue of the Chip Chat 
newsletter.

To ensure you are not placing the University at risk, and that you are 
getting full value from your software license, please contact Computer 
Prescriptions for a copy of "A Guide to the Ethical and Legal Use of 
Software for Members of the Academic Community."


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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