We believe that current copyright law will adequately protect the interests of copyright holders in the digital environment. We feel that Congress should not act prematurely to alter the law in ways which will give the public fewer rights of access to digital information than they currently possess with information in print and other media. The Working Group, chaired by Lehman, produced a draft Green Paper in July 1994 and a final White Paper in September 1995. The White Paper, Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure , was the basis for proposed legislation to amend the Copyright Act of 1976 to protect against the perceived potential for infringements of copyright within the dynamic digital environment. The Ad Hoc Copyright Coalition, representing Internet services providers, telecommunication companies, and the business community, also expressed opposition.
American archivists are an important segment of the international information community.
The archival mission is to collect, preserve, and make available to the public our nation's memory. Archives document society for the preservation of our cultural heritage and ensure the accountability of government to its citizens. By providing access to the wealth of documentary material about our nation, its people, and its governmental institutions, archivists actively participate in the education of the American people. New technology and the Internet provide archivists with both opportunity and means to reach a larger public than ever possible with information about and from archives. Archivists have always been careful to instruct users about the copyright law and the need to secure permission to quote from copyrighted material.