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I learned today that Senator Ashcroft's "Digital Copyright
Clarification and Technology Act of 1997" (S. 1146) is strongly
supported by the Digital Future Coalition (DFC), of which
ARLIS/NA and VRA are members. This is the intellectual
property bill introduced on September 4, 1997 that extends fair
use for education, research, and library archives into the
digital arena, among other important features.
Senator Ashcroft consulted with DFC during the drafting process,
and DFC acknowledges that the bill is consistent with their
goals and values.
The full text of the bill is available through the DFC web
page Select 105th Congress Legislation.
You can also access the bill through "thomas", but don't
use the address given in the NINCH announcement. It hasn't
been working. Just go to then to
current legislation, using the Senate bill number, S.1146.
At the bottom of the DFC page under Let Washington know what
you think, is a resource that will provide direct email links to your
representatives in Congress, as well as a resource that will
tell you who represents you in Congress, in case you have
forgotten.
The ALAWON announcement of the Ashcroft bill urged people to
let their representatives know of their support for the bill
by September 12th. Adam Eisgrau, ALA's Washington Office
legislative counsel and very active DFC leader, states that
House hearings will begin on September 16th, and that it is
important that both House Reps and Senators know that this
bill has the support of libraries and educational institutions
and museums, all of whom objected to the earlier intellectual
property proposals.
When you send email, ALA would be very pleased if you would
blind copy the Digital Future Coalition at [log in to unmask]
Maryly Snow
UC Berkeley
Architecture Slide Library
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