RE: Nature Journals: User Name and Password (Super ID Access)

["Rick Anderson" <rickand@unr.edu>]

I'm a naive person by nature (no pun intended in the context of this
thread), but I guess I don't really see the problem here.  If the
publisher of a nonacademic magazine normally buys first-time rights only
and publishes only in print, and then begins marketing an online version,
then it has two choices: either continue paying its writers for what it's
gotten in the past (first-time rights) and leave content from those
writers out of the online version (thus making it unattractive, as David
points out) or begin purchasing universal rights from its writers.  Will
that be more expensive? Yes, but isn't the publisher going to be selling
the online content?  The cost of those rights should be factored into the
online pricing.  That will make the online product more expensive, but we
librarians ought to expect that writers be paid for their work just like
we expect to be paid for ours.

Rick Anderson

-------------
Rick Anderson
Electronic Resources/Serials Coordinator
The University Libraries
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 No. Virginia St.
Reno, NV  89557
PH  (775) 784-6500 x273
FX  (775) 784-1328
rickand@unr.edu

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> [mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu]On Behalf Of John Cox
> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 7:32 AM
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: Nature Journals: User Name and Password (Super ID Access)
>
> I have no direct knowledge of Nature, and the reasons lying behind the
> terms of their latest license offering, but David Goodman's comments do
> highlight an issue that affects access to the full content of many
> magazines, including major titles that will be in many academic
> collections.  David's comments highlight the library perspective; but it
> vexes publishers just as much.
>
> The issue is authors' rights, and third party rights.  It has been the
> norm in magazine publishing to publish freelance journalists' articles on
> a one time use only basis.  The publisher can use the article in the
> magazine, but has no further rights in it - whether to syndicate the
> article, republish it in print, or use it electronically.  This is quite
> unlike the situation in academic journals, where copyright is assigned to
> the publisher, or the author grants a broad license for multiple uses in
> print and electronic media.  The problem is compounded by the widespread
> use of photographs from picture libraries on a one time use basis only.
>
> It is almost impossible for most magazine publishers to grant full text
> access to every item in any one title.  Most publishers are reviewing and
> renegotiating standard author and photograph license agreements, and are
> developing digital rights management systems that will allow e-commerce at
> the article or individual item level; but this takes time.  Meanwhile, the
> underlying rights in many magazines comprise a patchwork of mindblowing
> complexity.  And the publishers have to be exemplary copyright citizens
> (remember Ryan vs CARL, Tasini etc...)
>
> John Cox
> John Cox Associates
> John.E.Cox@btinternet.com