The Obama Administration has released its agenda and much of it affects members of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) and the work they do, whether in the U.S. or around the world. Below is a summary and analysis of a most relevant section, describing the Administration's views on copyright and technology, which has been prepared by SLA Chief Policy Officer Doug Newcomb.
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The Obama Administration has released its agenda. Though information professionals are involved at all levels of the 23+ basic areas of The Agenda, the area of Technology (just one of the 23+ areas) and its connection to copyright and the Internet will most directly and immediately affect SLA's members.
The following is a brief overview of the Technology Agenda. The Technology portion of the agenda strives "....to ensure the full and free exchange of information through an open Internet and use technology to create a more transparent and connected democracy." And to "....encourage the deployment of modern communications infrastructure to improve America's competitiveness and employ technology to solve our nation's most pressing problems -- including improving clean energy, healthcare costs, and public safety."
Although every area the Technology section of the agenda affects SLA members on some level, there are areas on which we will have to focus more keenly, both in the creation of new policies that will benefit information professionals and society as a whole, as well as fighting bad policies which may be mistaken as good.
The Technology Agenda is a digestible overview of the Obama-Biden Administration's positions in this arena and addresses seven major areas (numbers have been added), which include:
1. Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Ideas through an Open Internet and Diverse Media Outlets 2. Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy 3. Deploy a Modern Communications Infrastructure 4. Improve America's Competitiveness 5. Prepare All our Children for the 21st Century Economy 6. Prepare Adults for a Changing Economy 7. Employ Science, Technology and Innovation to Solve Our Nation's Most Pressing Problems.
Of these seven, three areas (1, 2, & 4) are most important to SLA.
1. Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Ideas through an Open Internet and Diverse Media Outlets. SLA has been very active in this area through our presence and participation in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and now the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The goal of protecting openness on the internet and network neutrality are key to an open and competitive society. Other areas covered here include protecting children on the Internet. Though this is a goal that must be achieved, in the past it has raised many privacy issues. This section, in addition to protecting children, will also strengthen privacy protections and hold government and business accountable for violations, which should balance protection and privacy concerns.
2. Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy. SLA supports and interacts with groups that work toward open government and more effective uses of sustainable technologies to maintain and access government information. The Obama-Biden Administration will appoint the first Chief Technology Officer (CTO), who will work with the chief technology and chief information officers of each of the federal agencies to ensure that they use best-in-class technologies and share best practices. This is very exciting news, and is an area which SLA will want to continue involvement on many levels.
4. Improve America's Competitiveness. This area is the biggest and most complex as it addresses, in the vaguest of terms, copyright. Competiveness addresses trade policies that ensure fair treatment of U.S. goods and services in foreign markets. This area also supports expanding research efforts in universities and colleges, as well as outlining the Administration's philosophy on antitrust enforcement to ensure that capitalism works for consumers (which has been an ongoing issue for many SLA members working for universities that must purchase "bundled" subscriptions to acquire and maintain the core publications they require). Other areas that are core to our membership-and are taken verbatim from the Technology Agenda under Improve America's Competitiveness are:
*Protect American Intellectual Property Abroad: Work to ensure intellectual property is protected in foreign markets, and promote greater cooperation on international standards that allow our technologies to compete everywhere.
*Protect American Intellectual Property at Home: Update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation, and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated.
*Reform the Patent System: Ensure that our patent laws protect legitimate rights while not stifling innovation and collaboration. Give the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) the resources to improve patent quality and open up the patent process to citizen review to help foster an environment that encourages innovation. Reduce uncertainty and wasteful litigation that is currently a significant drag on innovation.
*Restore Scientific Integrity to the White House: Restore the basic principle that government decisions should be based on the best-available, scientifically-valid evidence and not on ideological predispositions.
All of these areas have been, and will continue to be, highly debated as to what is fair and appropriate. There is no shortage of areas where SLA should and can be involved in creation and formation of policy and practice.
Please contact Doug Newcomb any comments or questions.
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