Colleagues

 

It is now two years since the third edition of my book, Copyright for Archivists and Records Managers, was published. Copies of it are still available, but not many, and I have now been commissioned to prepare a fourth edition for publication next spring.

 

The law is always changing as a result of new caselaw, so the new edition will offer additional guidance on such things as database right; the liability of an employer for an employee’s infringement; more on the definition of an employee including the employment status of clergy and ministers; the nature of a substantial part of a copyright work; the innocent infringer defence; moral rights in France; the relationship of design right to copyright; threats by rights owners; knowledge, research and ideas; the intentions of an infringer; copyright in letters, in names and titles and in forms; and fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study. There is also new legislation pending which is expected to amend some exceptions, notably in our field the scope of the exception for preservation copying and the scope of fair dealing for purposes of non-commercial research or private study.

 

In addition to these changes, I am hoping to include a table giving guidance on the duration of copyright in a selection of other countries (I am currently thinking of the USA, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, China). Works of overseas origin (except EU works) enjoy copyright protection in the UK but the term of protection depends on the term provided in that country: the duration will be the shorter of the UK term that would apply and the source country’s term. All works of EU origin enjoy the full UK copyright term regardless so they will not be in the table.

 

I am sending this message to ask whether there is anything that you would like to see added to or changed in the book. Is there something that is inadequately explained or is unclear? Is there something missing that you would find useful, such as a significant category of records? Have you failed to find in the index something that you know is there? Are there significant issues that are covered in the book but that need greater prominence?

 

Thank you

 

Tim

 

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Tim Padfield

Information Policy Consultant and Copyright Officer

The National Archives

Kew

Richmond

Surrey

TW9 4DU

 

020 8392 5381

 

[log in to unmask]

 

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

www.opsi.gov.uk

 

Please note that if this message contains advice on copyright it must not be taken as being formal legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should consult a solicitor.

 




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