Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 16:57:16 +0000
From: NINCH-ANNOUNCE <david@ninch.org>
Subject: Opposition to Coble's Revised Database Bill
NINCH ANNOUNCEMENT
March 19 1999
NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON COBLE'S RE-INTRODUCED DATABASE BILL
<http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/19data.html>
Below is an extract from the Benton Foundation's "Communications-related
Headlines" for today. It cites today's New York Times' article on Rep
Howard Coble's introduction of a revised database bill (H.354). The
Coalition referred to in the Benton story is the Digital Future Coalition.
Note that the Clinton Administration is also opposed to the breadth of this
proposed bill.
David Green
===========
>Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 10:10:49 -0500
>From: Kevin Taglang <kevint@BENTON.ORG>
>> BILL ON PROTECTING DATABASES RESURFACES IN HOUSE
>Issue: Intellectual Property
>Representative Howard Coble (R-NC) <http://www.house.gov/coble>, Chairman of
>the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on intellectual property, has
>introduced legislation (H.R.354) that has re-ignited a debate on how to
>balance protection of databases and preserving access to information in the
>public domain.
>Companies have sought the legislation for some time so they
>can protect public domain information they compile, catalogue and resell.
>Opponents to the legislation say it will create electronic toll gates to
>information that is now widely available free on the Internet -- from
>scientific research to stock quotes, telephone and e-mail listings, even
>directories of Internet domain names. Rep Coble says his new bill strikes a
>balance between the two sides: "The balance provides adequate protection to
>insure there is an incentive for companies to invest in the development of
>collections of information, without inhibiting members of the scientific,
>library and research communities from carrying on their work."
>A coalition of more than 100 companies, education institutions, nonprofit
>and >trade associations signed a paper given to the committee that said
>the proposal
>remained too broad, and would change the basic information policy of the
>country. The Clinton Administration has echoed their concerns. [See
><http://www.house.gov/judiciary/sub106.htm> for a list of the subcommittee
>members].
>[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing (jeri@nytimes.com)]
><http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/19data.html>
>
>
>(c)Benton Foundation, 1999. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
>internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message. This
>service is available online at <http://www.benton.org/Updates/>.
>
===============================================================
David L. Green
Executive Director
NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR A NETWORKED CULTURAL HERITAGE
21 Dupont Circle, NW
Washington DC 20036
http://www.ninch.org
david@ninch.org
202/296-5346 202/872-0886 fax
==============================================================
See and search back issues of NINCH-ANNOUNCE at
<http://www.cni.org/Hforums/ninch-announce/>.
==============================================================
NINCH ANNOUNCEMENT
March 19 1999
NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON COBLE'S RE-INTRODUCED DATABASE BILL
<http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/19data.html>
Below is an extract from the Benton Foundation's "Communications-related
Headlines" for today. It cites today's New York Times' article on Rep Howard
Coble's introduction of a revised database bill (H.354). The Coalition
referred to in the Benton story is the Digital Future Coalition. Note that
the Clinton Administration is also opposed to the breadth of this proposed bill.
David Green
===========
>Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 10:10:49 -0500
>From: Kevin Taglang <kevint@BENTON.ORG>
>Subject: Communications-related Headlines for 3/19/99
> BILL ON PROTECTING DATABASES RESURFACES IN HOUSE
>Issue: Intellectual Property
>Representative Howard Coble (R-NC) <http://www.house.gov/coble>, Chairman of
>the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on intellectual property, has
>introduced legislation (H.R.354) that has re-ignited a debate on how to
>balance protection of databases and preserving access to information in the
>public domain.
>Companies have sought the legislation for some time so they
>can protect public domain information they compile, catalogue and resell.
>Opponents to the legislation say it will create electronic toll gates to
>information that is now widely available free on the Internet -- from
>scientific research to stock quotes, telephone and e-mail listings, even
>directories of Internet domain names. Rep Coble says his new bill strikes a
>balance between the two sides: "The balance provides adequate protection to
>insure there is an incentive for companies to invest in the development of
>collections of information, without inhibiting members of the scientific,
>library and research communities from carrying on their work."
>A coalition of more than 100 companies, education institutions, nonprofit
and >trade associations signed a paper given to the committee that said the
proposal
>remained too broad, and would change the basic information policy of the
>country. The Clinton Administration has echoed their concerns. [See
><http://www.house.gov/judiciary/sub106.htm> for a list of the subcommittee
>members].
>[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Jeri Clausing (jeri@nytimes.com)]
><http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/19data.html>
>
>
>(c)Benton Foundation, 1999. Redistribution of this email publication -- both
>internally and externally -- is encouraged if it includes this message. This
>service is available online at <http://www.benton.org/Updates/>.
>
===============================================================
David L. Green
Executive Director
NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR A NETWORKED CULTURAL HERITAGE
21 Dupont Circle, NW
Washington DC 20036
http://www.ninch.org
david@ninch.org
202/296-5346 202/872-0886 fax
==============================================================
See and search back issues of NINCH-ANNOUNCE at
<http://www.cni.org/Hforums/ninch-announce/>.
==============================================================
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