All sorts of copyright and open access articles came at me today.

Google Scholar:

Publishers balk at Google book copy plan
Stefanie Olsen, CNET News.com
May 25, 2005

This first article briefly explains publisher's fears of digitizing copyrighted works on such a large scale. Publisher's question whether it is really fair use. According to the article, Peter Givler, executive director of the Association of American University Presses said, "If the fair use is not valid, it could be a gigantic copyright violation. There are fundamental questions about copyright that need to be answered."

A Google Project Pains Publishers
NEWS ANALYSIS :TECH By Burt Helm
MAY 23, 2005

This second article is a little longer and gives a brief background of Google Print before Google Scholar came out. It also provides a link to the May 20 letter, where the Association of American University Presses (AAUP) blasts Google's so-called Print for Libraries program for posing a risk of "systematic infringement of copyright on a massive scale."

Originally, Google offered publishers a service to get their books in the search engine. When a book came up as a search result, users would only be allowed to view a few pages of the book and given links to where the book could be purchased. Additionally Google said it would place sponsored ads and links next to the book text and it would spit the ad revenue with the publisher. Of course publishers flocked to this like seagulls at bread tossing beach goers. Then everything changed when Google announced it plans for Scholar.


Copyright and Electronic Reserves:

A different sort of campus copyright fight
Publishers concerned as more professors put readings online
By Anick Jesdanun
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:15 p.m. ET May 21, 2005

Brief excerpt:
"Many librarians and professors see electronic postings as akin to library reserves, but publishers see them more as course packs subject to permission and royalty."

More and more libraries are moving away from print reserves and moving towards online reserves. Students are able to access articles and materials 24/7 and according to publisher's is possibly in violation of fair use.