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My understanding is that all e books and e journals are subject to licences. You should follow the licence terms and conditions (which vary from one publisher to another) to the letter. Only if the e resource comes without a licence, or the licence is silent on a particular point, need you worry about what copyright law does, or does not allow you to do. In the (most unlikely) absence of a licence, you should treat an e resource like it was a printed item in terms of what you can and cannot do. Therefore only answer is simply: read the licence! And remember, they won't be identical. Charles Professor Charles Oppenheim Head Department of Information Science Loughborough University Loughborough Leics LE1 3TU Tel 01509-223065 Fax 01509 223053 e mail [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: An informal open list set up by the UK Serials Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Derek Boyle Sent: 11 July 2007 14:20 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Copyright for electronic resources Hello, I am currently investigating the issues surrounding copyright for electronic resources such as ejournals and ebooks. From what I think I have learned so far: In general standard copyright rules that relate to print copy also relate to electronic copy. As a general rule you may print, download, or e-mail single copies of electronic journal articles and database search results. You must not share these with unauthorised users. You must not make multiple copies without checking the terms of the licence. Authentication (e.g. an Athens username and password) can be used as a way of avoiding any problems with copyright therefore if you are unsure of whether you can email or send an electronic copy of an article, book chapter to an end-user you can direct them to the website and encourage them to access this themselves using their password. I just wanted to check that this was others experience and clarify a few related issues. If an authorised end-user does not have access to the Internet (or don't have access to their password details) but is in need of an article at that moment are you able to email/post them an electronic copy of this article? When dealing with aggregators and therefore a number of potential publishers (who perhaps operate beyond your own countries law) due you just implement the terms and conditions of that publisher? Is there a general rule on how many copies of an article, book chapter you can make available to other authorised users? I obviously mostly interested in this from a UK perspective but am happy to share any feedback that I get on this matter. Many thanks, Derek Information Manager Knowledge Service Group NHS Education for Scotland 1st Floor Clifton House Clifton Place G3 7LD email: [log in to unmask] Tel: 0141 352 2894 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This correspondence is intended for the named recipient. If it is received or accessed by any individual or organisation other than stated, the recipient must treat the information contained in the correspondence as confidential and dispose of it appropriately. As a public body, NHS Education for Scotland may be required to make available emails as well as other written forms of information as a result of a request made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. ----------------------------------------------------------------------