Hi Nick
I have no idea what is possible in this context, and not much knowledge of the detail of the underlying arguments, as well you probably know :-)
What I think I can (and actually what museums *should*) do is to try to look at the wider picture, look to understand how digital assets are considered and used by normal people, and then reflect that knowledge back into our institutions and processes.
What users seem to say, fairly consistently, is some or all of the following:
- I don't want to pay for content (subtext: the value just isn't there for me, or dropping so fast it is becoming almost nil),
- I don't much care about the copyright restrictions,
- The laws are too complex for me to understand,
- I can get (a free version of) this (or something similar) from somewhere else, so I will
From an institutional viewpoint:
- National laws don't make sense / work in an internationally-connected world,
- Time-based laws don't make sense / work in a "ctrl-C, ctrl-V, hey I'm a copyright pirate" world,
- DRM doesn't work
If we consider this from a user-centred perspective rather than an institutional-centred one, we stand a much bigger chance of actually getting something right. How we go about solving this is anyone's guess, but copyright is so mired in minute detail it is often hard to see the building for the bricks.
Either way, I'd like to see institutions empowered and able to challenge some of their existing business models, hopefully in more innovative ways than Rupert "lock it down" Murdoch :-)
Cheers
Mike
__________________________
Mike Ellis
Research and Innovation Group
Eduserv
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www.eduserv.org.uk
________________________________________
From: Museums Computer Group [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Poole [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 6:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Copyright Exceptions
Dear MCG,
Just to contribute to this discussion about the news concerning
Copyright exceptions and possible progress for museums.
It would be considerably easier to lobby for the interests of museums if
we were clear about what they are. This most recent development gives us
an opportunity, and as a community we should rightly be capitalising on
it by following it up, welcoming it, and using it as a chance to push a
few, simple points which would progress our collective interests and
those of our users.
Paul raises an important issue about where museums (and other cultural
sectors) actually stand in relation to their collections. For any
lobbying to be effective, we have to be able to articulate a clear,
compelling and singular view of what we need.
There is a powerful argument that we need simply to be able to sidestep
some of the constraints of Copyright legislation in order to preserve
and enhance public access to our collections. Too often, however, the
power and simplicity of this argument are deflated either by our
tendency to regard Digital surrogates as a monetisable asset or to
constrain others from repurposing material which they consider to be in
the public domain.
I understand (and don't wish to rehearse) the many arguments and
justifications for these behaviours, but unless we can get to, and get
behind a single clearly-expressed requirement of these political and
strategic agencies, then even when they want to support us, they simply
don't know what they need to do. I have seen our efforts at lobbying
founder at the precise moment when we are asked 'what, exactly, do you
want?'
So...I'll offer it as a challenge to the list. What, exactly, in one or
two sentences, do we want to change about current Copyright legislation
that would both make our lives easier and improve the quality of the
public engagement with culture?
If we can get to that, then it doesn't really matter who does the
lobbying (we all should, internally, externally, at every level).
All best,
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
paul reynolds
Sent: 14 December 2009 03:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Copyright Exceptions
This is very interesting development - and , as you might imagine, of
interest beyond the UK, including here in New Zealand.
However, if extensions to copyright are up for debate - it might be
good to
extend the discussion to ask some questions as to what the Museum -
Archive
- Gallery and Archive sector needs to do to tidy up their own
understandings
of public good copyright issues.
*Public Domain*
One huge issue of ongoing concern is of course how the sector deals with
public domain images and the recent worrying trend to pull public domain
images works back into copyright because they had been digitised.
Naturally I have in mind the National Portrait Gallery and their dispute
with Wiki Commons.
However, the NPG is not the only organisation involved here.
I recently blogged about the images being mutilated with copyright marks
by
English Heritage.
http://www.peoplepoints.co.nz/2009/12/english-heritage-and-holland-house
-mad.html
Though a tad emotional - I believe that my point that English Heritage
has
no right to do this, and that they are actively working against their
own-
and indeed the sector's - long term interests - is well made.
In short, in supporting the campaign below - can we also take a moment
to
look inside at other issues that need sorted.
paul reynolds
######
paul reynolds
mcgovern online
web : www.mcgovern.co.nz
blog : www.peoplepoints.co.nz
twitter: www.twitter.com/littlehigh
cell : +64 [0] 21 850 824
land: +64 9 3073435
On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 8:45 AM, [log in to unmask] <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Mia and All
>
> I would strongly urge as many organisations as possible to put in
> responses but with a high level of co-ordination between responses in
> terms of messages. The consultation closes on 31st March 2010, but
> maybe a meeting of various interests from this group together with the
> members of the Museums Copyright Group sometime in early Feb might be
a
> good idea to co-ordinate messages and activities, perhaps along the
> lines that Mia mentioned plus direct lobbying etc? it would also be
> good to pick up on the orphan works provisions in the Digital Economy
> Bill which is going through the Lords at the moment as these are also
> very relevant for us and need us to support them strongly.
>
> Whilst there is clearly a lot more that we need in terms of exceptions
> for our activities and it is a shame that museums still do not benefit
> either from the educational exceptions offered to educational
> establishments nor library privilege (although libraries and achives
> located in museums will do), it it fairly monumental that museums and
> galleries:
>
> 1) Are mentioned for the first time in the proposed copyright
> exceptions
> 2) Offered potential exceptions for internal preservation activities
> as a recognition that cultural heritage plays an invaluable part of
> societal activites etc
> 3) Given a potential platform to build up further exceptions in the
> future
>
> I would agree with Clifford that we need to ensure that these proposed
> changes are not lobbied out by other interests. It is worth reading
the
> IPO's justification for these proposed changes in the link, which also
> gives a good view of how fragile the balance between the various
> interests is, and how it might swing against our interests if our
> voices are not loud enough.
>
>
> Best wishes
>
> Naomi
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Mia
> Sent: 12 December 2009 18:55
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Update re Copyright exemptions for Museums & Galleries
>
> 2009/12/11 Nick Poole <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > We need to capitalise on this opportunity, and ensure that these
> > exemptions survive into law. That they exist at all is due in no
> small
> > part to the consistent lobby presented by the museum community over
> > the past year.
> >
>
> How do we do this? Does it require a coordinated response from MCG
> members,
> individuals or organisations, case studies, impact analyses?
>
> cheers, Mia
>
>
>
>
> Music like you want it - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/music
>
> ****************************************************************
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> http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
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>
>
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