Be sure to read Sally s article in the AALL Spectrum for more detailed information. In response to a letter that I wrote to Representative Tom Bliley, sponsor of H.R. 1858, here s what Representative Bliley said about his bill. It is important legislation for the future vitality of the Internet. Virtually all the information on the Internet today is purely facts and information that are not protected by copyright law. Keep in mind that consumers unfettered access to information on the Web is what makes the Internet so valuable.
Consumers can price shop, compare mortgages, get sports scores, and trade stocks on line.
But if Congress were to give database publishers the legal authority to lock up that information, this boom will likely fizzle. If you have the opportunity to talk with your Congressperson, please encourage him or her to support H.R. 1858 and not to support H.R. 354. Thanks to all of you who responded to the Legislative Awareness Committee s requests that you contact your representatives about the FY 2001 funding request for the Government Printing Office. Although this issue might be resolved by the time you see the newsletter, following is a very summary of the magnitude of the proposed GPO funding reductions. Funding for the distribution of paper and other tangible copies of government publications to depository libraries is essentially deleted.