TO COPY OR NOT TO COPY?

With intellectual property being created and exchanged at breakneck speeds, even Congress and the lawyers are having a hard time keeping up with legal implications. For faculty concerned about the letter of the law, Copyright Law on Campus, is a welcome and easy-to-use resource. Author Marc Lindsey, from Washington State University, explains all the ins and outs of copyright law from the perspective of the classroom instructor and creator. He defines the doctrine of fair use and how to apply it, copyright infringements and how to avoid them, the Internet and the many challenges it poses. He discusses copyright law in the context of distance education and setting campus policies. Useful appendices include classroom guidelines, a TEACH Act checklist and public domain sources. The book, which costs $16, serves as an excellent companion piece to AFT's own Intellectual Property Issues for Higher Education Unions: A Primer. Ordering information can be found at Washington State University Press--http://www.wsupress.wsu.edu/.
 

SPEAKING OF COPYRIGHT

A member of Congress has proposed legislation that would create a federal "work-for-hire" situation. Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.) wants to ensure that papers resulting from research projects substantially funded with federal dollars are available free to the public. That means the papers would not qualify for copyright protection. While the legislation does not have co-sponsors at this time, it's something to watch, says AFT higher education director Larry Gold, because it could have complicated implications for our members.
 

RECORDING INDUSTRY RAISES THE VOLUME

Not surprisingly, an industry whose profits depend on the sale of recordings is determined to prosecute individuals who illegally lift and distribute large amounts of copyrighted music over the Internet. The Recording Industry Association of America will use software to identify these individuals and seek their names from Internet service providers. The industry also is designing a means for individuals to pay a fee to be able to download music legally.
 

AS THE SPYGLASS TURNS

Last year, as part of Homeland Security efforts, the U.S. justice department proposed a program called Total Information Awareness (TIA), that would allow the government to amass data on individuals via information systems. While the government's goal is to identify and track terrorists, some private citizens worry that TIA might violate individual privacy. Ryan McKinley, an MIT graduate student goes a step further, raising the question of whether citizens could use help keeping adequate track of their elected officials. Working with professor Chris Csikszentmihalyi, McKinley created the online Open Government Information Awareness program for his graduate project, enabling citizens to see an assemblage of information--including voting records, campaign contributions, and biographies--about elected and appointed officials along with industry titans and bureaucrats. The site combines information from C-SPAN, other Web sites, and citizens' own Web postings to keep track of government officials. Visit the site at http://opengov.media.mit.edu/.