1. Support Access to NIH Publicly Funded Research
2. SLA Urges FTC to Reconsider Decision on Net Neutrality
3. Concerns Expressed with the Protect America Act of 2007
4. Groups Request Public Hearings regarding Proposed Changes to FISA
5. Hague Convention Questioned by Library Groups
6. Parts of USA Patriot Act Struck Down
7. Microsoft's Open Document Format Rejected
8. Study Shows Fair Use Economy Represents One-Sixth of U.S. GDP
9. "Closed Doors; Open Democracies" DVD available on SLA Web Site
10.Global "Right-To-Know" Day is 28 September

Support Access to NIH Publicly Funded Research
Contact your Senators no later than Friday, 28 September

As the U.S. Senate considers appropriations measures for the 2008 fiscal year please take a moment to remind your Senators of your strong support for public access to publicly funded research and, specifically, ensuring the success of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy by making deposits mandatory for researchers.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation with language that directs the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to make this change as part of the FY2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. Several organizations, including SLA, wrote a letter in July and then another letter in September to the U.S. Senate in strong support of timely online access to articles reporting the results of government-funded research. The group urged the Appropriations Committee to include language directing NIH to make its public access policy mandatory. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a similar measure as part of the FY2008 Senate Appropriations Bill. Now, as the appropriations process moves forward, it is critically important that our Senators are reminded of the breadth and depth of support for enhanced public access to the results of NIH-funded research. Please contact your Senators no later than Friday, 28 September.

SLA Urges FTC to Reconsider Decision on Net Neutrality
SLA called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reconsider its decision to abandon Internet neutrality. In a letter to FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras on 17 August, SLA called the commission's June 2007 report, "Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy," shortsighted, and the FTC's decision a threat to an open, robust, and independent Internet. SLA urged the FTC to take another look at the Net neutrality issue. Read Press Release.

Concerns Expressed with the Protect America Act of 2007
Several organizations, including SLA, sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, expressing concern over the recently enacted Protect America Act of 2007. The concern is that the Act may be used to justify the warrantless interception of any international communications by U.S. persons, without any restriction on the subsequent review and data mining of the metadata concerning those calls or the content of the communications themselves. The letter expresses encouragement that requests have been made to the judiciary and intelligence committees to once again delve into the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and reinsert much needed privacy protections that were lacking in the last iteration. Read letter.

Groups Request Public Hearings Regarding Proposed Changes to FISA
More than 60 groups, including SLA, wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asking him to insist on public hearings on any proposed legislation to alter the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before either the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence or the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on such legislation. Public hearings with members of both committees on any proposed legislation involving surveillance that affects the rights of people in the U.S. are greatly needed. Read Letter.

Hague Convention Questioned by Library Groups
During the course of negotiations on the Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements, concern was expressed to the U.S. delegation, by SLA and other groups, that the scope of the Convention included choice of court provisions in non-negotiated agreements. Such non-negotiated agreements are becoming increasingly prevalent as more information products, such as software, databases, and Web sites, are made available subject to shrink-wrap and click-on licenses. In many instances, there is unequal bargaining strength between the parties to such "agreements." Often, terms are not displayed to the licensee until after he or she has purchased the product and agreed to the terms-for example, by opening the product's packaging. Furthermore, the terms contained in these unilateral agreements may be contrary to what the licensee would reasonably expect. Read Letter.

Parts of USA Patriot Act Struck Down
In early September, a U.S. federal judge struck down parts of the revised USA Patriot Act, saying that investigators must have a court's approval before they can order Internet providers to turn over customer records.

Read news stories: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes.

Microsoft's Open Document Format Rejected
In early September, Microsoft's effort to have its Open Document Format (ODF) recognized as an international standard was rejected by a panel of software experts. Read New York Times Article. In December 2005, SLA and others sent letters to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in support of its adoption of ODF technologies in general as the standard for all electronic documents created by the executive branch. Backwards compatibility may be difficult to achieve in 100 years because the developer of proprietary software may have gone out of business, and the specifications for the document formatting may also have disappeared. ODF will significantly ease access to information for future generations, as any future programmer will be able to use its open, nonproprietary specifications. Galvin Letter. Trimarco Letter.

Study Shows Fair Use Economy Represents One-Sixth of U.S. GDP
Fair Use exceptions to U.S. copyright laws are responsible for more than $4.5 trillion in annual revenue for the United States, according to the findings of an economic study released in early September. According to the study commissioned by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and conducted in accordance with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)methodology, companies benefiting from limitations on copyright holders' exclusive rights, such as "fair use," generate substantial revenue, employ millions of workers, and, in 2006, represented one-sixth of total U.S. GDP. Read Press Release and Link to Full Study.

"Closed Doors; Open Democracies" DVD Available on SLA Web site
This DVD features two panel discussions at the National Press Club on 12 March. The panels focus on national, state, and local issues in the U.S., such as how the right information needs to be available for emergency services. The DVD includes an appearance by Rick Piltz, who resigned from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program in protest of political manipulation. Use the coupon code V5CLDR to get a special price for libraries. Link to DVD.

Global "Right-To-Know" Day is 28 September
Desires to combat corruption have led to an explosion over the last decade in the laws allowing citizens to gain access to public records. USINFO, a publication produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State, reports that more than 70 countries have enacted freedom of information laws encouraging transparency in government. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that "International Right-to-Know Day" is celebrated worldwide each year on 28 September "to recognize and promote the worldwide proliferation of government openness." The date commemorates the 2002 establishment of Freedom of Information Advocates Network, created by information-freedom organizations from around the world. Read Story.

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