Public Policy Connections

Open Access Publishers Announce Formation of Trade Association

The Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) has been formed, representing yet another step in the maturation of Open Access (OA). The mission of OASPA is to support and represent the interests of OA journals publishers globally in all scientific, technical, and scholarly disciplines through an exchange of information, setting of industry standards, advancing business and publishing models, advocating for gold OA journals publishing, education and the promotion of innovation.

Membership is open to scholarly publishers and professional publishing organizations, including university presses and for-profit and non-profit organizations alike that have signed either the Berlin or Budapest OA declarations and publish at least one full OA journal. Individuals and other organizations supporting OA journal publishing, such as library groups, are also eligible to join.

Read news story.

The announcement of OASPA’s official launch came in conjunction with the first-ever “Open Access Day.”

Open Access Pioneer BioMed Central Acquired by Springer

Major scientific publisher Springer Science+Business Media has acquired BioMed Central (BMC), one of the leading global open access publishers committed to providing free access to peer-reviewed research in the biological and medical sciences.

BMC, founded in 2000, was the first for-profit open access publisher. Many advocates of the open access movement followed BMC with interest, worrying that when the company was sold, its approach might change. BioMed Central’s publisher assured editors that the BMC board of trustees will continue to safeguard BMC’s open access policy in the future.

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Orphan Works Legislation Dies in the House

After passing in the Senate on 26 September, the Orphan Works bill, which limits remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works, died in the House on 3 October after Congress voted on the financial rescue bill and ajourned.

In June 2008, The Library Copyright Alliance, of which SLA is a member, wrote a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) expressing appreciation for their continued leadership on the bill. The letter proposed amendments to orphan works legislation.

Amicus Brief Submitted in Arista v. Lime Wire on Secondary Liability and Inducement

Several groups, including SLA, submitted an amicus brief on the issue of 'secondary liability' and the 'inducement' rule in the case of Arista Records v. Lime Wire. 

In the case, Arista seeks to hold Lime Wire liable for acts of copyright infringement by users of its software. The brief serves as a reminder that "the law requires caution in assessing whether to impose copyright liability on the makers of multi-use technologies."

Read more about the brief on Privacy Digest.  For additional information, visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation page on Arista v. Lime Wire or Ray Beckerman's Recording Industry vs. The People blog and his index of litigation documents about this case.

LC European Reading Room Reopens

The European Reading Room of the Library of Congress (LC), which focuses on information relating to European collections, has reopened in the Southeast Pavilion of the Jefferson Building. Previously located in the adjacent second-floor South Curtain, the reading room was moved to make more space available for exhibitions.

Read news story form LC’s Gazette.

In April 2008, when it was rumored the European Reading Room may be closing, the LC issued a press release with more details. When questions still remained, SLA contacted LC staff with questions and provided answers from Deanna Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services at the LC.

US Border Policy Allows for Search of Data-Storing Devices

A U.S. border security policy allows agents of the US Customs and Border Patrol to search and confiscate computers, phones, personal digital assistants, cameras, digital music players and other data-storing devices.

An article from the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) PracticeLink has suggested 10 steps you can take to shield sensitive information, like that protected by solicitor-client privilege, when crossing the border.

Read CBA PracticeLink article.

SLA Opposes Secrecy on Bailout Bill

Several groups, including SLA, wrote open letters to Congress opposing two sections of the Legislative Proposal for Treasury Authority to Purchase Mortgage-Related Assets. 

The letters state that the legislation confers unacceptably broad powers upon the Treasury to conduct activities without transparency and accountability to the public.

EPA Libraries Reopening! Read Notice!

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is enhancing access to library services for the public and Agency staff. EPA will open previously closed libraries in its National Library Network, with walk-in access for the public and EPA staff. Other library locations will expand staffing, operating hours, or
services.

Read notice.

SLA Submits Comments on ACTA

SLA and others submitted comments on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to ensure that any discussions of “Internet issues” in ACTA be carefully circumscribed and consistent with US law and that all solutions contained in ACTA, whether immediately applicable or forward-looking in nature, must avoid the unintended consequences of requiring changes to U.S. laws.

Read letter.

Read related news story.

Canadian Copyright Bill Dies on the Table

Bill C-61, An Act to amend the Canadian Copyright Act, was tabled during the second session of the 39th Canadian Parliament by Minister of Industry Jim Prentice. The bill purported to balance the rights of copyright holders and consumers. The bill died on the table when the 39th Parliament was dissolved prematurely and an election was called by the Governor General Michaëlle Jean at Prime Minister Stephen Harper's request on 7 September 2008. The bill would have prohibited the unlocking of digital locks on content such as software, digitized music, digitized books and other protected subject matter, even for the purpose of exercising user rights recognized in the Copyright Act.

Read related news story.

In July 2008, SLA blogged on the introduction of Bill C-61 and provided links to the Canadian Association of Research Libraries’ (CARL) statement entitled “A Canadian Approach to Digital Copyright”. A key element of that statement was that “to compete nationally and internationally, researchers in Canada require a fair and balanced copyright regime that recognizes the importance of users’ rights. Users’ rights must not be limited or narrowed in the digital environment.”