Re: [d@DCC] One Internet, Many Copyright Laws

From: Darryl Moore <darryl _-at-_ mfe.ca>
To: General Copyright Discussions <discuss (at) list.digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Mon, 08 Nov 2004 12:13:10 -0500
References: <Pine.LNX.4.58.0411081126590.11613@calcutta.flora.ca>

Has anybody here ever considered that this might be the best way to 
raise public awareness and fight harmful changes to copyright laws?

I think it may have been talked about in this group previously, but I'll 
mention it again anyway.

Canada does not have anything like Project Gutenberg, though I have 
heard it talked about. We now have copyright laws that are very 
different than American ones (hopefully will remain so). We need a 
service which can act as a reservoir of ALL public domain works in this 
country.

If such a service were run well, there would be two significant side 
effects.

1) people would realize there is an innate value in the public domain, 
and hopefully would become motivated to protect it.

2) Due to the differences in laws, American corporations would 
undoubtedly try to silence the service. Hopefully (due to 1 above) they 
would encounter significant opposition. The differences in our and 
American laws would be highlighted and (again due to 1) there will be 
significant resistance to bring ours in line with theirs.

I emailed Project Gutenberg of Australia to ask if I could host the 
offending script, but I think a much bigger initiative is required. I 
would love to contribute to a the largest possible collection of public 
domain works in Canada that is possible. books, music, and film! Anyone 
want to help?


Russell McOrmond wrote:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/08/technology/08newcon.html
> 
> PROJECT GUTENBERG, the volunteer effort to put the world's literature 
> online, may be the latest victim in the Internet battle over copyright.
> 
> Earlier this year, the Australian affiliate of Project Gutenberg posted 
> the 1936 novel "Gone With the Wind" on its Web site for downloading at no 
> charge. Last week, after an e-mail message was sent to the site by the law 
> firm representing the estate of the book's author, Margaret Mitchell, the 
> hyperlink to the text turned into a "Page Not Found'' dead end.
> 
> ...cut... Read full article online ($free registration required)
> 
> 
> 
> 
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