Everyone would like to make BookShare an international service, but it
can't be done simply by wishing it. It probably can't even be done simply
by working hard at establishing it. The problem is that copyright law is
very complicated and is not at all international. BookShare works under an
exemption in U.S. copyright law, but that law doesn't apply to other
countries. I believe that the only reason NLS can share some of their
books with some people in other countries is the statement you've probably
heard at the end of recordings that says something like "with kind
permition from the copyright holder".
What often needs to happen are changes to the copyright laws of other
countries and noone here has anything to say about that. I'm sure you've
observed or heard about attempts to make international agreements and
noticed how dificult and stupid the whole process seems. I can imagine it
is even harder with an issue like copyright law which is always a fight
because a lot of people don't think we should have the copyright exemptions
we already have, let alone more extensive ones.
The good thing is that it might be possible to have organizations share
their work sometime in the future If other countries establish services
something like bookshare .
I tried to find the E-mail that was sent to this list explaining the issues
but I can't find it. I must have lost or deleted it.
Right now I'd like to go scream at some politicians in Australia. I have
heard before that it was illegal to scan books for yourself there, but
every time I hear it again it makes me mad.
Sarah Van Oosterwijck Assistive Technology Trainer http://home.earthlink.net/~netentity
I appreciate Jim's clarification about the issue of submitting identical
scans elsewhere. I personally don't like it but will respect it for the sake
of Bookshare. I would like to see Bookshare find ways to expand its service
to people living outside the United States, as I believe this would solve
many of the problems leading to the existence of other sites currently
considered pirate sites.
Sarah J. Blake sarah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.growingstrong.org
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