Digital Copyright

Citation

Secker, J. (2006), "Digital Copyright", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 391-392. https://doi.org/10.1108/00330330610707962

This book is in fact an e‐book, and was supplied to me as a PDF file. I have to say that I am not hugely fond of reading large amounts of text on‐screen and my immediate temptation was to print it out. The one big advantage with electronic format is it has many hyperlinks between different sections of the book and links to external web sites. However, I have to confess to finding the printed format far more readable and accessible. It is part of what the Chartered Institute of Library and Information professionals (CILIP) describes as the e‐briefing series and although it provides a wealth of information in a concise format, as a reference work, this book will be most useful to me in hard copy.

Format aside, the book is a mine of information about everything relating to digital copyright and it provides invaluable advice for those working in the digital environment and wrestling with copyright issues. It is divided into eight chapters, looking at: the specific nature of digital information; types of digital information; licences; contracts and terms and conditions; permitted acts; educational establishments; and author's rights. It also includes a valuable list of further resources and a series of highly useful checklists on topics such as “Things to consider when deep linking” or “Obtaining copyright clearance in screenshots”. There are also flowcharts, sample wording for objects such as copyright release forms, boxes of highly useful information (for example, extracts from various sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act), and a series of tips throughout the work. For example on page 102 there is a box entitled “What can be digitised” which provides a useful checklist for practitioners and on page three there is another for when using content from web sites. Where relevant, case law is also cited, which provides a fascinating insight into how the law has been applied. The book also has a useful glossary at the start and a list of abbreviations.

I am always impressed by the depth of Pedley's knowledge, but also in the concise way he has managed to tackle such a wealth of issues. He starts by setting out the “copyright balance” and explaining how technology has upset this balance, by allowing people to create a new copy of a work cheaply, quickly and without any degradation in quality; but Pedley also concludes that the digital format is distinct because of the different ways in which the content is sold or licensed. In particular, he looks at how technology in the form of digital rights management systems or technical protection measures has been employed. Chapter three on Licences is particularly useful, explaining how digital content can often be governed by contract law, rather than copyright, because of the licences, or terms and conditions that are associated with it. Pedley explains how these licences are, however, negotiable and should always be thoroughly reviewed before agreeing to them. He also considers some of the licensing schemes available from bodies such as the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA), and the Educational Recording Agency (ERA), while looking at newer forms of licensing such as Creative Commons and open access.

Chapter four explains how concepts such as “fair dealing” apply in the digital environment. For those who want to brush up their understanding of such concepts the book also provides excellent clear summaries of such terms. For example, on page 74 there is a summary of the Berne three‐step test. I also found Chapter five, on educational establishments particularly useful, providing up to date, highly practical information for practitioners on virtual learning environments and electronic reserves. Chapter seven, entitled “Other issues” actually covers a wealth of highly practical topics, such as considering the international dimension of digital copyright, and looking at building copyright clearance into workflows.

I have actually dipped into this book at various points, using the index, but also the table of contents at the start. It is useful for answering quick queries that as a librarian I am frequently asked from either academic staff or from colleagues. Pedley covers a wealth of topics from Creative Commons licences, to the open access movement, from copyright in commissioned photographs to the legal deposit of web sites. He looks at issues such as digital signatures, digital rights management systems, issues associated with file sharing in relation to downloading music, and provisions for users with disabilities and visual impairment. One very small criticism I have is the page layout, which at times is slightly unclear due to the extensive use of boxes, tips and the insertion of various legal cases. These sometimes interrupt the flow of the main body of the text, and particularly if you are reading this book on screen, it can be easy to lose one's place. That said, I know I will make extensive use of this book in the future as it answers many of the difficult questions I face as a practitioner. I would therefore highly recommend it as an excellent introduction to the subject, but also for those with some knowledge of copyright already.