Copyright: Interpreting the Law for Libraries, Archives and Information Services (4th edition)

Citation

Hannabuss, S. (2005), "Copyright: Interpreting the Law for Libraries, Archives and Information Services (4th edition)", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 61 No. 3, pp. 447-449. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410510598607

Looking at this work over its editions, from the first in 1990 and second in 1997 to the third in 1999 and the revised third in 2002, now it has reached its 4th edition, it seems to provide a commentary both on the fast‐changing law applicable in and to libraries and information services, but also on the ways in which such organizations have themselves changed. The new edition appears, also, in a market much more populated by legal advice than ever before, and readers will almost certainly compare Sandy Norman's (2004) excellent guide for libraries, Paul Pedley's (2003) more wide‐ranging work on law for information professionals, the new edition of Armstrong & Bebbington (2004);Paul Sturges's (2002) work on public internet access, and recent guides to new law like Kelvin Smith's (2004) on FOI. A lot of advice out there, including Pedley's own information newsletter.

Cornish was Programme Director for the IFLA Availability of Publications Programme and worked on copyright for the British Library. He is now an independent adviser with his own business called © Copyright Circle. The fourth edition updates law above all because of the EC Directive on harmonization and the implications it has for commercial and non‐commercial use. It also picks up on changes to websites and webcasts, no longer broadcasts unless simultaneous (is the time of use chosen by consumers or not?). The whole area of computer software, electronic materials, and websites has been enhanced, with information on computer programs, computer‐generated works, transient copies (are they a necessary part of the technical process?), fair dealing when it comes to caches, library materials on websites, and communication to the public.

Conceptually, communicating and broadcasting, publishing and disseminating have a long way to run in this field, and will be revisited often in the months and years ahead. This is why it is useful for professionals to have regular access to works like Norman, which provide good legislative as well as practical guidance. Cornish adopts a question and answer approach, setting up a conversational dialogue with the reader which, with quick use of the useful index, takes you to issues you want. So perennial issues like lending/rental, exceptions and fair dealing, inter‐library lending, copying for preservation, database rights and licences all get coverage. Updates on the visually impaired user and on virtual learning environments are welcome and necessary. An enhanced listing of applicable law is provided early on. Sidelong glances appear at the end on public lending right, legal deposit, and data protection. FOI should have come in somewhere, but Kelvin Smith so far has done a good job.

Cornish's book has always been a friend of mine: you can dip into it and pick up fresh hints. I am wondering now, however, whether it's rather hit‐and‐miss question‐and‐answer approach seems rather homespun and whether professionals need a wider framework of concepts and law, not just processes and practice, above all if such works are to target that wider information profession which CILIP (behind Facet) claims to represent. For the many web and bulletin board managers, knowledge management practitioners, marketers who use databases, and even for those charged with licensing and other rights management issues associated with ECRMs (electronic copyright management systems), the range of issues raised here needs more. Not for one moment a criticism and more of a definition of brief and boundaries: know what you're getting with this new edition – it really has got a lot, in its chosen area – and keep an eye on what else is out there. All these legal issues, too, are examined by legal works as well, which cannot now be ignored. The paperback price will appeal to people who want it for themselves (say, day‐to‐day and for training) and for libraries supporting information education and training courses and degree programmes.