RE: We have met the enemy...

["Sloan, Bernie" <bernies@uillinois.edu>]

I agree with John Cox's statement that "One of the solutions is for
publishers and librarians to talk to each other..."

The interaction of publishers with libraries is often a contentious
process. In a way, I tend to see the relationship as a symbiotic
relationship where each symbiont views the other as a parasite. In other
words, publishers and libraries need each other, but they all too often
tend to view each other as parasites, each out to bleed the other dry.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message-----
From: John Cox [mailto:John.E.Cox@btinternet.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2000 5:07 PM
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: We have met the enemy...


It's not greed that makes publishers (including ALA, ACRL and other
library organisations) put restrictive provisions in their standard
agreements. It's fear of the unknown.  And that is as true of the
commercial publishers that are the butt of much criticism, but also
societies, university presses and even non-profit publishers in the
library community.  In my work as a consultant, I have found no
discernable difference in approach between the for-profit and non-profit
sectors.

Developing business models for online information has been, and will
continue to be, a process of experimentation.  In uncharted waters, where
the parties have for the first time to define their rights and
obligations, publishers consult their lawyers.  And lawyers, in drafting
licences, will be as protective of their clients' intellectual property as
possible. Publishers then continue to use such licenses even though the
market has changed, and got wiser.  Why this should surprise anyone is
beyond me - it's human nature.

One of the solutions is for publishers and librarians to talk to each other,
and reduce their dependence on the legal fraternity.  Shouting at each
other, and referring to 'the enemy' is not constructive dialogue.

John Cox

John Cox Associates
The Pippins, 6 Lees Close, Whittlebury
TOWCESTER, Northants NN12 8XF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1327 857908
Fax: +44 1327 858564
E-mail: John.E.Cox@btinternet.com