From: Alex Holzman <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:17:52 -0400

Jim,

How can you be sure the policy originates with Cambridge, which
publishes the journal on behalf of the Medieval Academy of America?
It's just as possible, until demonstrated otherwise, that the society
originated the policy.  I'm not saying that's the case, only that I
can't tell from the documents you provide.

By the way, I recently signed a similar transfer of copyright for
something even less than a book review--more a "what am I reading now"
piece for Contexts.  I do agree that such a policy for book reviews,
of all things, is excessive.

Alex Holzman
Temple



On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 7:00 PM, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> From: Jim O'Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 08:36:00 -0400
>
> Invited to write a book review for a distinguished journal that I'm
> proud to be able to work with, I'm asked to sign this copyright form
> provided by Cambridge University Press (who actually publish the
> journal):
>
> http://journals.cambridge.org/images/fileUpload/documents/SPC_ctf.pdf
>
> That's way over the top for a 1000 word book review, but still very
> aggressive for a learned article.  (The third page, after the 'page
> left blank', offers a rationale and explanation.)  I won't be going forward
> with this review and am surprised that at this point a publisher of such
> eminence as CUP is still making sweeping requests like this.
>
> Jim O'Donnell
> Georgetown