Nothing directly to do with Philippa's message, but an important concern
nevertheless:
>From the volume of comments we get from members who have been invoiced for using
our photocopying service, it is very clear that there is a significant number of
NHS libraries which are breaking the law wholesale in the way they deal with
supplying photocopies of copyright material to their users. My legal advice
here is unequivocable: there is an absolute obligation to charge library users
for photocopies, and at a rate which recovers the cost of providing that copy
(including staff costs) plus a contribution to the general running of the
library. If you do not do this you are leaving yourself open to criminal
prosecution and your organisation open to civil action, heavy damages and close
future supervision of your activities by the Copyright Licensing Agency, bless
'em. Conviction in serious cases can bring a prison sentence. The user is also
liable if he or she does not observe the terms of the Copyright Declaration that
you, again under law, MUST make them sign.
If there are local political difficulties, refer the matter to your legal
department for advice and suggest they contact the LA or some other professional
body.
This is a serious warning. I and my colleagues here are not going to grass you
up, but someone might and the CLA are diligent (and quite properly so from their
perspective) in following up, targetting and suing organisations and individuals
that they think are breaking the law.
Tony McSean
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|