Copyright & Legal Affairs
Press Releases and Announcements
Monday, July 5th 2010
3 million Orphan Books in Europe - EC Report
At least 3 million orphan books exist in Europe - works which are still in copyright but cannot be digitised because the rights holders cannot be traced to grant permission - according to a newly published report from the European Commission.
Sunday, June 27th 2010
Google's video sharing site YouTube wins copyright infringement case against Viacom
Googled announced that a federal judge in New York has ruled that is video sharing site YouTube is protected by the safe harbor of th eDigital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) against claims of copyright infringement.
Monday, May 3rd 2010
Google wins legal victories in Europe, US on copyright & trademark issues
Google has won what appears to be a major legal victory in Germany (and so probably the rest of Europe) on the question of whether image search and showing thumbnails violates copyright law.
Sunday, April 18th 2010
U. S. Congress increases momentum toward public access to research
On 16 April 2010, The Federal Research Public Access Act of 2010 (FRPAA) was introduced in the U. S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and a bi-partisan host of co-sponsors. The proposed bill seeks to build on the purported success of the first U. S. manadate for public access to the published results of publicy funded research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Tuesday, February 23rd 2010
Judge hears arguments on Google book settlement
The U. S. federal judge overseeing the proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed against Google by groups representing authors and publishers heard from a handful of supporters and objectors to the deal at a hearing on Thursday February 18. Judge Denny Chin said he would not rule immediately on the settlement because there was 'just too much to digest.'
Saturday, February 6th 2010
U. S. Justice Department criticizes latest Google book deal
In another blow to Google's plan to create a giant digital library and bookstore, the Justice Department, on Thursday February 4, said that a class-action settlement between the company and groups representing authors and publishers had significant legal problems, even after recent revisions.
Thursday, January 28th 2010
U.S. Copyright Office adopts interim regulation on mandatory deposit of certain works published only online
The U. S. Copyright Office is adopting an interim regulation governing mandatory deposit of electronic works published in the United States and available only online. For further information, go here. United States Copyright Office
Monday, January 4th 2010
French Publishers Association wins court case against Google
On 18 December 2009, the Court of First Instance of Paris decided that the applicable law is the French one for books being digitised in order to be made accessible as snippets to French internet users on their territory. Press Release from Federation of European Publishers.
Friday, November 20th 2009
Google Book Settlement - Preliminary Approval
On November 19, 2009, the Court granted preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement. The Court-approved Supplemental Notice will be distributed mid-December 2009. A final serttlement/fairness hearing has been set for February 18, 2010.
Thursday, October 29th 2009
EU Consultation on priorities post i2010 Digital Library - STM submits comments
STM has submitted its views to the Commmission on key issues relating to digital copyright and library issues. "Post-i2010: priorities for a new Strategy for European Information Society (2010-2015)"
Monday, September 28th 2009
Frankfurt Anti-Piracy Breakfast: 16th October
The PA, IPA, and AAP will host an 'Anti-Piracy Breakfast' during the Frankfurt Book Fair on Friday 16th October, 8:30 am - 10:am in Symmetrie Room 2, Hall 8.1.
Sunday, September 27th 2009
Register for the 7th IPA Copyright Symposium in Abu Dhabi
'Evolving Rights, emerging markets' is being organised by the Arab Publishers Association (APA), Kitab and IPA from 28 Feburary - 1 March 2010.
Tuesday, March 24th 2009
STM issues revised Permissions Guidelines for publisher-to-publisher permissions
24 March 2009. STM is today releasing the revised STM Permissions Guidelines (updating the 2003 Guidelines) which facilitate many routine permission requests among publisher signatories (for information on how to participate, please see the Guidelines or email Kim Beadle at beadle@stm-assoc.org). The Guidelines note that requests for small portions of text and a limited number of illustrations should be granted on a gratis basis for signatory participants, and further describe a more automatic process which eliminates the need for requests to be transmitted (some signatories have chosen this route, others continue to request express permission requests). The Guidelines apply to both book and journal content, and facilitate reproduction further editions or in other media such as in online form.
Wednesday, March 18th 2009
Update on RoweCom Bankruptcy
On 13 March 2009, a letter was issued Re: Sabine et al - Letter to Interested Parties. Craig and Macauley, Counsellors at Law are now focusing their efforts in winding-up the Debtor's cases and making a final distribution. 13 December 2007 letter.
Tuesday, March 17th 2009
STM issues Guidelines concerning the Application of DRM in Document Delivery Requirements for Pharmaceutical Industry Clients
17 March 2009. STM announces its adoption of a guideline dealing with the application of DRM in documents delivered to pharmaceutical industry clients ( “STM Guidelines concerning the Application of DRM in Document Delivery Requirements for Pharmaceutical Industry Clients”). The Guidelines come from a collaborative discussion with the Pharma Documentation Ring through which the pharmaceutical industry noted their operational concerns with respect to confidentiality and IT network management.
STM members are asked to consider the questions and approaches outlined in the Guidelines and consider whether DRM protection might be more selectively implemented to facilitate pharmaceutical client needs. The Guidelines note procedures which could be adopted by each member to communicate with their document delivery service providers and pharmaceutical industry clients.
Wednesday, February 11th 2009
Notice Programme for the Google Book Search Settlement
STM has been contacted by the Kinsella/Novak Communications, who are handling the public notice component of the Google Books Search Settlement, to assist in the circulation of notice documentation of interest to publishers in the settlement. This can be found here. If members have further questions about the notice programme or wish Kinsella/Novak to facilitate communication between their and the plaintiffs' attorneys on substantive questions about the Settlement, contact Kinsella/Novak directly via:
Danielle West, Project Manager
Kinsella/Novak Communications, LLC
2120 L Street, NW, Suite 860
Washington, D. C. 20037
202-379-1164 office
703-400-1090 mobile
202-478-1788 fax
d.west@kinsella-novak.com
Monday, January 19th 2009
Publishing Research Consortium issues Journal Author's Rights Study
Released to coincide with the APE meeting in Berlin 20 January, the Publishing Research Consortium (PRC), of which STM is a sustaining member, has published a preliminary report that compares the findings of a specially commissioned study on what authors want to do with their journal articles, and what they believe they are permitted to do by their publisher agreements. See
http://www.publishingresearch.net/documents/SummaryforAPE-final.ppt
Friday, January 16th 2009
STM Briefing Note
STM releases our latest briefing note on the issues that surround the increasing tendency of institutions to mandate the use of their repositories. This note provides an overview of the current scene and poses some closely connected publishing policy considerations and media talking points.
Wednesday, November 12th 2008
Members Only - STM issues briefing on EU Green Paper on the Knowledge Economy
STM has released a briefing responding to the 'EU’s Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy.' STM strongly encourages members to make a submission. It is important that as many member companies as possible respond to the public consultation. Deadline for consultation submission is 30 November 2008. The briefing has been sent to each STM Head of House and is available in Member Briefings & Updates - Members Only. Briefing for Society Executives now also available.
Thursday, October 30th 2008
STM Sends Letter to U. S. Congress Supporting the Fair Copyright Act
On 30 October 2008 STM's CEO, Michael Mabe, wrote to the U. S. Congressional Committee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property (IP committee) supporting the Fair Copyright in Research Works Act (H.R. 6845). Mabe also commented on statements made at the the 11 September 2008 hearing on H. R. 6845 - addressing issues of peer review and interconnectivity and the use of the Internet. STM Letter Supporting the Fair Copyright Act (H.R.6845)
Wednesday, October 29th 2008
STM issues new Permissions Guidelines for its Members
These Guidelines are an updated 2008 version of the original 2003 STM Permissions Guidelines. They concern the granting of permission by one signatory STM publisher to another signatory STM publisher to re-use limited amounts of material from published works in subsequent publications (print and/or electronic). We believe that the new iteration of the Guidelines will be helpful to STM members and should further simplify and clarify inter-publisher requests.
Members can sign up for the new 2008 Guidelines by contacting Kim Beadle (beadle@stm-assoc.org).
Tuesday, October 28th 2008
AAP - Google Litigation Settlement
AAP and Google have announced that the book-library scanning lawsuit that has been going on for 3 years has been resolved with a settlement. More information is available at the AAP website, including more detailed frequently asked questions. STM has prepared a quick briefing for STM members in the Members Only area.
Monday, October 27th 2008
Subito Settlement Agreement Signed
In October 2008 representatives of Subito e.V., the Free State of Bavaria in Germany, the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchandels e.V. and the International Association of STM Publishers (“STM”) signed a Settlement Agreement that ends the litigation over the legality of digital delivery of scientific documents within German-speaking countries. Press release here.
Friday, June 13th 2008
STM issues Statements on Digital Copyright Exceptions
On 13 June 2008, STM released its position paper on digital copyright exceptions and limitations for education and research and has also took the opportunity to comment on the recently released US Section 108 Study Group Report on digital library exceptions. The position paper and these comments help to answer questions on how copyright law will adjust to technology given the concerns of the academic and research communities.
STM Position on Digital Copyright Exceptions
Annex to STM Position on Digital Copyright Exceptions
13 June Press Release – STM Position on Digital Copyright Exceptions
Sunday, June 1st 2008
STM and other stakeholders sign Memorandum of Understanding for Orphan Works
Brussels - Wednesday 4 June 2008 – STM, together with the Federation of European Publishers and 23 other stakeholder organisations, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Diligent Search Guidelines for Orphan Works in the presence of Information Commissioner Viviane Reding at a ceremony held in the Berlaymont Building, HQ of the European Commission in Brussels.
4 June 2008 Press Release on Memorandum of Understanding
Sunday, April 20th 2008
EU commission: copyright fit for digital world - STM responds to 2nd round consultation on private levies
On 17 April 2008, STM made its submission to the EU as part of the call for comments on "fair compensation for acts of private copying" seeking further input of stakeholders in this matter. STM submission to the second call for comments from the European Commission on "Fair compensation for acts of private copying"
Sunday, January 20th 2008
Subito Documents - New & Updated
- New STM Toolkit for Sign-up by Publishers -
Now covering the world including German speaking countries
Thursday, December 20th 2007
STM, Boersenverein and Subito Agree on Framework for Electronic Document Delivery
In December 2007, after extensive negotiations, representatives of Subito, e.V., a Berlin-based consortium of scientific libraries in German-speaking countries, and representatives of various international and German STM publishers have endorsed the text of a framework agreement concerning the delivery of scientific documents within German-speaking countries (so-called 'Addendum No.1'). This agreement complements the so-called international framework agreement between various STM publishers and Subito e.V. concluded in July 2006. See pdf versions of the final Addendum No. 1 in English and German.
Friday, October 19th 2007
Support these STM Copyright Committee Efforts
We need publishers to sign up for the 'Safe Harbor Provisions for the Use of Orphan Works for STM Literature.' Connected to this document is our 'Science and Medical Publishers Imprints List.'
Sign on to 'Scholarly Publisher Guidelines for Quotation and Other Academic Uses of Excerpts.' These guidelines deal with the use of material from published journal articles in subsequent print and electronic publications - a kind of broad extension of the 'STM Permissions Guidelines'.
To show support by signing on to these documents, contact Mark Seeley (m.seeley@elsevier.com)
Friday, October 19th 2007
STM issues Position Paper on Copyright Assignment Benefits
STM's Position Paper, 'Publishers Seek Copyright Transfers (or Transfers or Licenses of Exclusive Rights) to Ensure Proper Administration & Enforcement of Author Rights' is now available.
Wednesday, May 16th 2007
Members Only - STM agrees 'safe harbor' guideline for use of orphan works
The Copyright Committee has approved a 'safe harbor' guideline for the use of orphan works, which we need STM members to sign up for. A copy of the guideline is available in the Members Only section in Member Briefings and Updates. Download the December 2006 STM Position on Orphan Works. Let Mark Seeley (m.seeley@elsevier.com) know if your organisation wishes to be a signatory.
Tuesday, May 15th 2007
STM supports submission by HKIPA on Hong Kong's Consultation Paper on 'Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment'
Hong Kong legislators are reviewing 'Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment' because of recent technological developments. STM wants to ensure that its concerns and interests will be heard and considered during the consultation phase of this legislative process. STM believes that this adaptation could have crucial impact on the development of copyright law and protection, both in Hong Kong itself and in its neighbouring countries.
STM and the Hong Kong and International Publishers’ Alliance (HKIPA) submitted comments and concerns on the Hong Kong Consultation Paper on ‘Copyright Protection in the Digital Environment’. Both, along with a submission by the IPA, were filed with the Hong Kong authorities on 30 April 2007.
Monday, May 14th 2007
Update on Brussels Declaration Signatories
As of May 11, the Brussels Declaration on STM Publishing now includes 46 publishers and 13 trade associations, with the Institute of Pure and Applied Physics (Japan) and the Singapore Book Publishers Association the newest signatories.
Tuesday, May 8th 2007
STM, AAP/PSP, ALPSP issue White Paper on academic use of journal content
In an effort to create a more balanced understanding of the actual rights policies in place at most journals, and in the hope of tempering the often overheated rhetoric regarding the role of copyright in scholarly communication, three prestigious organizations representing the international scholarly publishing community today (8 May) issued a White Paper on the academic use of journal content. For a copy of the position paper by the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), the Association of American Publishers Professional and Scholarly Publishing division (AAP/PSP), and the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP), download ‘Author and Publisher Rights for Academic Use: An Appropriate Balance, May 2007’
Friday, March 30th 2007
NHS agrees Central Photocopying and Scanning Licence for England
London 30 March 2007. Following lengthy negotiations, The Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. (CLA) and the NHS have agreed a central photocopying and scanning licence for the NHS in England. The press release is available at www.cla.co.uk
Saturday, March 17th 2007
STM raises concern about New Zealand Copyright Amendment Bill
On 8 March 2007, STM issued a letter to the New Zealand Commerce Committee expressing concern about some of the provisions of the Copyright (New Technologies and Performers’ Rights) Amendment Bill 2006.
Tuesday, March 13th 2007
New Signatories to Brussels Declaration
As of Monday, 12 March 2007, The University of Chicago Press and the International Publishers Association (IPA) have signed the Brussels Declaration.
Tuesday, March 6th 2007
Brussels Declaration gets new international support
As of Monday 5 March 2007 two major organisations became signatories of the 'Brussels Declaration'. The American Chemical Society and the Professional/Scholarly Publishing division of the Association of American Publishers have signed the Declaration bringing the number of signatories to 43 publishers and 11 trade associations.
Friday, February 23rd 2007
Brussels Declaration adds new signatories
From its issuance on 13 February to 22 February, the Brussels Declaration has increased its signatories from 35 to 42 publishers and 8 to 10 trade associations. We will regularly update you on the new publishers and trade associations supporting the principles of the Brussels Declaration.
Thursday, February 22nd 2007
STM writes intervention letter to the U. S. Copyright OfficeOn 16 February, STM produced a document commenting on digital interlibrary loan in U. S. copyright law (Section 108).
On 16 February, STM produced a document commenting on digital interlibrary loan in U. S. copyright law (Section 108).
Tuesday, February 13th 2007
Publishers launch Brussels Declaration
On 13 February 2007, a group of 35 major publishers and 8 publishing trade associations has issued a joint declaration laying out ten principles through which scientific, technical and medical (STM) publishing can continue working for the benefit of science and society. It was issued in the context of the European Commission’s Communication on Scientific Information and its Conference on Scientific Publishing in the European Research Area in Brussels on 15-16 February 2007.
The Brussels Declaration and Press Release are available for download.
Friday, February 9th 2007
Electronic access to authoritative publications for RAE 2008
An innovative partnership will enable free electronic access to journal articles submitted to the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Project partners announcing the plan include: the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Publishers Licensing Society, CrossRef, Eduserv, the Copyright Licensing Agency and a wide array of rightsholders. Download a copy of the RAE press release.
Friday, December 1st 2006
Members Only - November STM News & STM Copyright Newsletter available
The 2006 November issues of the 'STM News' and 'STM Copyright Newsletter' are available as pdf files. Please go to the Members Only area. Members should receive their print copies the week of 3 December.
Wednesday, November 8th 2006
Study identifies factors that could lead to cancelled subscriptions
A major study, commissioned by the Publishing Research Consortium, of librarian purchasing preferences has revealed the factors that could prompt a librarian to substitute Open Access materials for journal subscriptions. According to the study, the length of the embargo period and peer review are key determinants in a librarian's decision to maintain, or not, journal subscriptions. This study raises questions about previous claims that librarians will continue to subscribe to journals, even when some or all of the content is freely available on institutional archives. See News Release (09/11/06). Download the full report of the study, 'Self-Archiving and Journal Subscriptions: Co-existence or Competition? An International Survey of Librarians' Preferences' by Chris Beckett and Simon Inger, Scholarly Information Strategies, Ltd.
Tuesday, August 15th 2006
Subito Update
On 12 July, the German university library consortium, Subito, and 21 leading publishers signed the 'international' agreement dealing with 'library service' and 'document delivery' activities outside the 'German-speaking territories. STM recommends that member publishers participate in this programme. To request the framework agreement and a document outlining the key points of the general agreement (English and German), please go to Subito Update on the STM website. The press release is also available.
Thursday, July 27th 2006
subito and 21 publishers reach agreement on international document delivery
STM and subito e.V., a non-profit association of libraries from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, announced that subito e.V., and 21 leading publishers have reached an agreement to provide an international document delivery service of copied articles. The parties emphasise that the agreement advances a mutual commitment to increase visibility and access to scientific and medical information for the benefit of research and education. English and German language versions of the press release are available for downloading.
