Re: Authors rights: Going too far

["Joseph J. Esposito" <espositoj@gmail.com>]

Of course, much of what is said here is not true.  The "point" of
scientific communication is among, other things, to advance the
careers of its participants, demonstrate tangible results for
authorized activity, enable administrators to assess their staff,
allow research to become part of other activities such as
teaching and new (often commercial) service developments, and on
and on.  Scientific communications has many "points," enhancing
scientific research among them.  The purpose of research is not
to make a profit.  Profit is a byproduct of the organizations
that provide the "points" of research.  This is not to say that
all these organizations do a good or honorable job.

Joe Esposito

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean-Claude Guedon" <jean.claude.guedon@umontreal.ca>
To: <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
Cc: "Joseph J. Esposito" <espositoj@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:42 AM
Subject: Re: Authors rights: Going too far

> It only comes to prove that some people become livid more
> easily than others.
>
> I believe that such the putative library move described by Phil
> Davis would act as a wake-up call for many of my colleagues. It
> would certainly stir up a debate (the livid ones would see to
> it) which would have great educational value given the general
> degree of copyright illiteracy among faculty members.
>
> As for the paternalistic (or maternalistic) assumptions, they
> are not needed. More to the point, the librarian can call on
> the negative consequences of some rights transfer agreements
> for teaching and research in general.
>
> The point of scientific communication is to enhance scientific
> research, not publishers' revenues. Period!
>
> Jean-Claude Guedon
>
>
> Le mercredi 12 mars 2008 a 21:54 -0400, Phil Davis a ecrit :
>
>> How about the point of view of an author?  I would be livid if my
>> librarian told me that my favorite journal were to be canceled
>> because she thought the publisher was treating me unfairly.  My
>> mother may have told me to eat my greens when I was a child;
>> having my librarian tell me what is (and what isn't) good for me
>> as an author seems both arrogant and ridiculous.
>>
>> --Phil Davis