Andrea Foster, Colleges' Database Dilemma, Chronicle of Higher Education, October 17, 2003 (accessible only to subscribers). Proponents of the database bill want to eliminate their chief opponents, universities and libraries, who have successfully blocked the bill every time it has been introduced since 1996. So last week Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) offered them a deal: if they support the bill, then he will add an amendment protecting nonprofit universities and research libraries from liability under the bill. Excerpt: "If college officials accept the offer, its backers will have succeeded in splitting a powerful coalition of opponents.... On the other hand, if colleges and research libraries reject the offer, it could come back to haunt them. Lobbyists note that colleges cannot afford to alienate the Judiciary Committee, which has considerable influence over the Internet file-sharing controversy and over patent issues, both of which concern colleges." Foster's article includes a short timeline of database legislation ups and downs since 1991.
Posted by
Peter Suber at 10/13/2003 12:18:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
