I have been following the online inter-library loan request form/copyright legislation debate with interest as it is an issue we are concerned about at the moment.
The reply I received from Sandy Norman at the LA and my original message below may be of interest/relevance.
Regards
Jean McGuinness
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
Aberdeen
From: Jean McGuinness [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 April 2001 09:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Electronic signatures and inter-library loan requests
Dear Sandy
It has been recommended I contact you with a question about copyright and I hope that you will be able to help.
We have a copy of a DTI press release from July 2000, stating that
electronic signatures are now legal. I wonder if this new legislation has
been implemented in libraries? Our library is about to move over to an
electronic inter-library loans package. On this new system users could
submit their inter-library loan requests electronically. We would like to
know if it is still necessary for users to also fill in a paper copy of
their request containing their signature? Would it be breaching copyright
legislation if we didn't have copies of the paper requests or does an
electronic signature now suffice?
Our library committee has asked that we investigate this matter and report
back to them at a meeting at the end of April.
Many thanks in advance for your help
Regards
Jean McGuinness
Library
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
Reply:-
Dear Jean
Unfortunately there does have to be some implementing legislation before
they are legal as the declaration form states that the signature must be a
written one. The Patent Office have been sitting on this debating what to
do. However now that the Copyright Directive will have to be implemented
then it is likely that electronic sigs will be part of this implementing
package. Like you we thought it would be easy!
Sandy Norman
Copyright Consultant
[log in to unmask]
Jean McGuinness
Library
The Macaulay Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Tel: 01224 498200 Ext 2203
Fax: 01224 311556
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.mluri.sari.ac.uk
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