Dear Readers, Colleagues and Friends: I have not reached out for quite some time, so no time like the present. I created BeSpacific in 2002, and have continued to provide daily research to readers, with no pay wall, for 22 years. I am passionate about law and technology and the myriad ways that knowledge created… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Intellectual Property
A lawsuit is threatening the Internet Archive but it’s not as dire as you may have heard
Vox: “The Internet Archive (also known as IA or Archive.org), home to the giant vault of internet and public domain history known as the Wayback Machine, is currently facing a crisis — one largely defined by misinformation. A group of publishing companies filed a scathing copyright lawsuit earlier this month over the IA’s controversial attempt… Continue Reading
Activists rally to save Internet Archive as lawsuit threatens site
Follow up to previous posting – Publishers file suit against Internet Archive for systematic mass scanning and distribution of literary works – via Decrypt: “…In March, as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of public libraries, the Internet Archive created the National Emergency Library and temporarily suspended book waitlists—the kind that make you cool your jets… Continue Reading
MIT, guided by open access principles, ends Elsevier negotiations
MIT News: “Standing by its commitment to provide equitable and open access to scholarship, MIT has ended negotiations with Elsevier for a new journals contract. Elsevier was not able to present a proposal that aligned with the principles of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts. Developed by the MIT Libraries in collaboration with the Ad Hoc Task… Continue Reading
Publishers File Suit Against Internet Archive for Systematic Mass Scanning and Distribution of Literary Works
Association of American Publishers: “Today, member companies of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Internet Archive (“IA”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit asks the Court to enjoin IA’s mass scanning, public display, and distribution of entire literary works [Internet… Continue Reading
How Patent Abuse Could Hurt the Fight Against the Pandemic
Slate – Scientific research that is funded by the public should be available to the public. “Scientific research that is funded by the public should be available to the public. That commonsense principle is no more apparent than in the middle of a public health crisis. And for the most part, researchers and journal publishers… Continue Reading
British Museum offers 1.9 million photos of its collection available for free online
“Get closer to the British Museum’s collection and immerse yourself in two million years of history, across six continents. Collection online has been completely redeveloped, making it much easier to find what you want. It allows access to almost four and a half million objects in more than two million records. The search is more… Continue Reading
Georgia Copyright Loss at High Court Could Jolt Many States
Bloomberg Law: “Georgia lost a close U.S. Supreme Court case over the state’s ability to copyright its annotated legal code, in a ruling heralded by public access advocates over dissent that lamented its disruptive impact on states’ existing business arrangements. Copyright protection doesn’t extend to annotations in the state’s official annotated code, Chief Justice John… Continue Reading
Digital 2020 Report
Hootsuite – A comprehensive look at the state of the internet, mobile devices, social media, and ecommerce. “4.5 billion internet users around the globe. 3.8 billion people on social media. What are the best opportunities in digital? Which platforms are growing fastest? And what new consumer behaviors should your brand be paying attention to? Steer… Continue Reading
Pete Recommends Weekly highlights on cyber security issues April 12, 2020
Via LLRX – Pete Recommends Weekly highlights on cyber security issues April 12, 2020 – Privacy and security issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly… Continue Reading
UNC Chapel Hill and SUNY Part Ways With Elsevier Deals
Inside HigherEd: “The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill will not renew its bundled journal subscription deal with publisher Elsevier. Elaine Westbrooks, university librarian at UNC Chapel Hill, tweeted yesterday that the two parties failed to reach a deal after more than a year of negotiation. The institution’s current subscription package with instant access to around 2,000… Continue Reading
Now Is the Time for Open Access Policies Here’s Why
Creative Commons: “Over the weekend, news emerged that upset even the most ardent skeptics of open access. Under the headline, “Trump vs Berlin” the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that President Trump offered $1 billion USD to the German biopharmaceutical company CureVac to secure their COVID-19 vaccine “only for the United States.” In response, Jens… Continue Reading
