Re: Another post about the Georgia State copyright case

[Joseph Esposito <espositoj@gmail.com>]

I don't know all the details of the GSU case, but it does seem to 
me that some of Kevin S.'s remarks are over the top.  I would, 
for example, be interested to know how the plaintiffs are deemed 
to be "wealthy."  One plaintiff is a commercial organization, 
Sage, which, as far as I know, does not release financial reports 
to the public. Sage is controlled by the family of the founder. 
It may or may not be wealthy, which, I suppose, means successful. 
Would you have a commercial organization be unsuccessful?

The other two plaintiffs are university presses.  I understand 
Oxford is a successful organization, whose surplus is remitted to 
its parent university.  It retains some of its surplus (you are 
welcome to call it "profit") for investment in an outstanding 
series of publishing programs.  If this is a misuse of money, I 
would like to know how.

I know less about Cambridge, but my limited understanding is that 
its relation to its parent institution is similar to Oxford's.

I would hope that the lawsuit is based on principle.  Aren't all 
lawsuits based on principle?  We have courts to sift through the 
competing ideas of principle and the facts that support them.

We really should turn down the temperature on this case.  If the 
plaintiffs win, it's not the end of the world or of higher 
education, as some seem to believe; if they lose, the world 
continues to spin and revolves around the sun at its prescribed 
duration.  Moderation in all things, including copyright.

Joe Esposito