July 2007
In this issue...
1. EPA Bill Heading to Senate Floor
2. WIPO Treaty Stopped in its tracks and Sent Back to the Committee
3. Resolution Adopted by NMLSB on Library and Information Policy
4. Charges Reopened in DoD v. Jean Martignon
5. Robert Tur v. YouTube Copyright Case
6. Move to Digital Broadcasting Presents New Challenges in the U.K.
7. Democracy in Jeopardy Cartoon
8. New Closed Doors; Open Democracies DVD now availabl
EPA Bill Heading to Senate Floor
The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill to increase the EPA's budget. The bill is now headed to the full Senate. This is good news for EPA libraries and laboratories, which were subject to downsizing attempts in anticipation of significant 2007 budget cuts. Language from the bill states that "$2,000,000 shall be used to restore the network of EPA libraries recently closed or consolidated by the administration. While the committee approves of the efforts to make environmental data collections available electronically, the committee does not agree to further library closures or consolidations without evidence of how the public would be served by these changes." Read full Appropriations Act S.1696.
The House FY 2008 Interior Appropriations bill doesn't include any language about the EPA libraries. It is critical that the final Senate bill includes this language. Visit SLA's Legislative Action Center to find out how you can help support the EPA libraries in this bill. Book Patrol Article on EPA Bill Article. Related Article: Library Journal Article. OBM Watch Article on EPA.
WIPO Treaty Sent Back to the Committee
One day after rejecting a proposal to advance the issue to formal treaty negotiations, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) members recommended that talks on an anticipated broadcasters' and cablecasters' treaty should be moved back to the committee level for further deliberation, This move could indicate the issue may be shelved. Read IP Article. Senate's Concerns with WIPO. Related Articles: Library Journal Article. LCA's Concerns on WIPO. LCA Joint Paper on WIPO.
Resolution Adopted by NMLSB on Library and Information Policy
The National Museum and Library Services Board (NMLSB) has adopted a resolution that is committed to carrying out its responsibilities to ensure an enhanced voice for library and information policy at the federal level that will proactively support research and policy analysis and advise the federal government on policy issues in a transparent and open manner. Read IMLS Press Release.
Charges Reopened in DoD v. Jean Martignon
The U.S. Second Circuit of Appeals has found that the U.S. Congress' criminalizing of boot-leg recordings of music performers is constitutional and does not conflict with copyright laws in the Department of Defense v. Martignon. The federal appeals court ruled in a decision that reopened charges against a New York record store owner. The U.S. Second Circuit of Appeals disagreed with a lower court judge who dismissed the case against the store owner, Jean Martignon, after the government charged he sold unauthorized recordings of concerts. Read full ABC News Article. SLA participated in a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Martignon in May 2005.
Robert Tur v. YouTube Copyright Case
In the first copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube, a judge has denied both parties' motions for summary judgment, ruling that more evidence is necessary to determine whether YouTube is shielded from liability by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This ruling sets up a potential conflict between YouTube and Robert Tur, the photojournalist who sued when his videos of the L.A. riots and O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase appeared on YouTube. Read full article.
Move to Digital Broadcasting Presents New Challenges in the U.K.
The United Kingdom's move from analogue to digital broadcasting, the growth of broadband access to the Internet, and the development of new markets are opening up new opportunities for creators and broadcasters. Consumers are also becoming empowered; they are no longer limited to a narrow range of options from a limited number of broadcasters. This also creates new challenges for the creative industries and their regulators to ensure that consumers are protected and that creators are able to benefit while not curbing the growth of creativity and knowledge while maintaining the protection of intellectual property and enforcement of copyright law. Read House of Commons Report.
Democracy in Jeopardy Cartoon
An animated video by OpenTheGovernment.org is an entertaining look at government openness and secrecy. The video also links to suggestions of how people can become more involved in defending the Freedom of Information Act. View Video. View Link.
New Closed Doors; Open Democracies DVD now available
This new DVD features two panel discussions co-sponsored by SLA at the National Press Club on 12 March 2007. The panels focus on national, state, and local issues such as how the right information needs to be available for emergency services. This panel includes Rick Piltz who resigned from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program in protest of political manipulation. Link to DVD.
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©2007 Special Libraries Association. All Rights Reserved.
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