Phil Gilbert's comments make sense. Some of the technology
he talks about is not far away SEREN, for example, is
assuming that it will have to make a charge for the
delivery of each document, and is looking at adding the
possibility of a "royalty" charge into the system.
The biggest difficulty with individual charging is how you
stop the individual re-sharing his copy with anyone else on
the site (or elsewhere) who wants it? You can set up a
"print-and-delete" system, but that removes a lot of the
advantage of having the electronic version in the first
place. Having said that, the problem is not new: how do you
stop a user from passing on a photocopy of the article he
has received from BLDSC? It's illegal, of course; but so is
breaking the speed limit!
Ian
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Ian Lovecy
Cyfarwyddwr /Director
Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth / Information Services
Prifysgol Cymru Bangor / University of Wales Bangor
Labordy Cyfrifiadurol
FFordd Sackville
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 1LD
e-bost / e-mail:[log in to unmask]
Ffon / tel: 01248 382960
Ffacs / fax: 01248 383826
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