From: Winston Tabb <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:24:42 +0000 Nothing, except when they tread on the equally legitimate rights of users, as is the case here. Winston Tabb ----- From: Sally Morris <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:49:17 +0100 Forgive me if I'm missing something, but exactly what is wrong with defending the legitimate copyrights of publishers and their authors? Sally Sally Morris Email: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Heather Morrison <[log in to unmask]> Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:16:04 -0700 Further to the bizarre developments in Canada with Access Copyright, note that Access Copyright describes itself as a global organization, as a member of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations. From the Access Copyright website: Access Copyright is a member of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO). IFRRO's purpose is to facilitate, on an international basis, the collective management of reproduction and other rights relevant to copyright protected works through the co-operation of national Reproduction Rights Organizations (RROs). Through growing relationships with other copyright collectives (associations that collect royalty payments on behalf of copyright holders), Access Copyright has truly become a global organization. Our reciprocal agreements with other copyright collectives across the globe have created a network of international licences, which means our affiliates receive royalties when their works are copied not only in Canada, but in other jurisdictions around the world. Any royalties attributed to Canadian creators and publishers for works copied in other countries (with whom we have agreements) are forwarded to Canadian creators and publishers via Access Copyright. from: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/about-us/international-network/ Comment: developments in copyright are increasingly relevant to all of us. Behind the scenes, it is largely the same overlapping set of players who are advocating for limiting copyright, whether their focus is Georgia State, the Research Works Act, or Canadian universities. One of these international players is the International Association of Scientific, Medical and Technical Publishers (STM). From the Introduction to the STM Copyright webpage: The Aims of the Copyright & Legal Affairs Committee To pursue, within the limits of the STM Association's aims and objectives, the highest possible level of international protection of copyright works and of the services of publishers in making these works available What do I get from STM? What we do Copyright, Legal & Legislative Efforts . Defence of publisher and rights-holder positions in precedent-setting copyright disputes and proposed government legislation Recent actions . Advocacy to promote UK Digital Economy Act for better copyright enforcement - but without passing provisions that would have led to over-broad extended collective licensing . Advocacy for strong copyright laws in Canada, Brazil, India. Slowed Canadian Bill C-32 until Bill fell in elections; forced Brazilian copyright act to go back to drawing board; partial success in India From: http://www.stm-assoc.org/copyright-legal-introduction/ best, Heather G. Morrison