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Re: UC v. NPG

Ken,

> . . . but is it true now?

As far as the findability condition is concerned, I'd think it's 
close to true, yes.

One can not realistically hope that such a statement will in that 
respect ever be totally true, whatever happens. Because of all 
kinds of factors, one of them being human nature. I'd guess we're 
already above the ninety percent level of what's achievable. So 
far along, that one could safely say that it is almost for all 
practical purposes true -- if findability is the criterion.

But don't overlook that he did say "in many ways". That's a 
non-trivial qualification when one's talking about scientific 
publication. ( Note that I didn't say "when one's talking about 
scientific communication". )  The point is, actually, the other 
ways -- the ways in which it *does* "matter where the work's 
published".

Findability is very important for every scientist, I'd imagine. 
But there's probably no scientist for whom it's the only 
important thing ;  and probably few scientists for whom it's the 
most important thing.

It may well be, too, that Yamamoto is intentionally giving an 
exaggerated impression here, for tactical reasons -- don't you 
think ?  Surely he had a good notion who all was likely to be 
reading this quote.

- Laval Hunsucker
   Breukelen, Nederland

----- Original Message ----
From: Ken Masters <kmasters@ithealthed.com>
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Sent: Fri, June 11, 2010 5:21:42 AM
Subject: RE: UC v. NPG

Hi All

At the end of the article there is the comment ""In many ways it 
doesn't matter where the work's published, because scientists 
will be able to find it," Mr. Yamamoto said."

Is this true, yet?  Personally, I want it it to be true, and 
believe (probably wishful thinking) that it's heading this way, 
but is it true now?

Regards

Ken

Dr. Ken Masters
Asst. Professor: Medical Informatics
Medical Education Unit
College of Medicine & Health Sciences
Sultan Qaboos University
Sultanate of Oman
E-i-C: The Internet Journal of Medical Education