article thumbnail

The Case for Copyright Exceptions and Fair Use

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

For on January 17, 1984, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that consumers could tape their favorite TV shows and watch them later without the copyright holder’s consent. 417 (1984), also known as the “ Betamax case ”, is a landmark copyright precedent that has had enormous implications for the media economy. copyright law.

Copyright 196
article thumbnail

Upholding The Social Bargain: Bookshare and Copyright Compliance

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Benetech's largest social enterprise is the Bookshare online library for people who are blind or otherwise disabled when it comes to reading print. copyright law. The publishing industry and disability organizations both agreed on this provision of copyright law. At Benetech, our commitment is to uphold that social deal.

Copyright 158
professionals

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Fair Use Victory Advances a Future of Accessibility for All

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

In Authors Guild v. copyright law). copyright law). The HathiTrust Digital Library (HDL) is a partnership of academic and research institutions that had created (with help from Google ) a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world. The Authors Guild then appealed the ruling.

article thumbnail

Bookshare’s Status as an Authorized Entity under Section 121

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Section 121 of the Copyright Act, also known as the Chafee Amendment (17 U.S.C. Section 121) , defines a special class of organizations known as authorized entities. Dozens of publishers and authors have signed contracts with Bookshare that confirm and support its work as an authorized entity as well.

Authoring 100
article thumbnail

Fascinating Meeting at the Copyright Office

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

Last Friday I spent almost two and a half hours in a wide-ranging conversation with Maria Pallante of the Copyright Office (and two other folks whose full names I didn't write down). copyright exemption for serving the print disabled is commonly called the Chafee Amendment: Section 121 of copyright law. copyright law.

Copyright 104
article thumbnail

Bringing Millions of Books to Billions of People: Making the Book Truly Accessible

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

I believe it is a combination of copyright exceptions and business model innovations. For the content of books, this flexibility is expressed in ideas like public domain, when the copyright owned by the author or publisher ends at some point. I love to hark back to Thomas Jefferson’s take on ideas. “He

article thumbnail

What is in the Treaty of Marrakesh?

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

The View from an Authorized Entity Many Bookshare users (and potential Bookshare users!) However, as the founder of the Bookshare online library, we have a great deal at stake in how the Treaty gets implemented. First, it makes creating a national domestic copyright exception an obligation of countries that ratify the Treaty.

Copyright 158