ARE SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS AMENDING PERMISSIONS POLICIES
FOR
THE DIGITAL ERA?
Eamon T Fennessy
The Copyright Group, PO Box 5496, Beverly Farms, MA 01915, USA
Objective: To survey how scientific publishers are reacting to the digital environment by modifying rights and permissions policy.
Design: Over 140 international scientific publishers have been contacted during this survey which began in October, 1996. These institutions (academic, private and public, for-profit and not-for-profit) published more than 1,300 scientific, technical, and medical titles. Publishers were selected whose works were subscribed to by 2 international intellectual property organizations. Contacts were made by telephone, fax, e-mail, and in person. The survey questioned current and/or future electronic availability of the works as well as policies for electronic scanning, storage, and distribution for educational purposes.
Results: To date 65% of selected publishers have responded. Data will be reported as to publishers' nationality, the number of titles involved, and the requirements users must meet to scan, store, and/or distribute copyrighted articles.
Conclusions: Scientific publishers' policies differ widely in addressing the digital media impact. Publishers, large and small, are slow to adapt except in rare instances. Non US publishers appear to be more progressive in adjusting policies.
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