“Freelance writers have reached a settlement worth as much as $18 million with The New York Times Co. and other defendants in a copyright infringement case involving work posted online or in databases.” – Reuters
The TeleRead take: I’m happy to see the settlement, given how abused writers are. Of course, publishers are now forcing writers to sign contracts that make them give up syndication and database rights anyway. So while this is a legal victory, is it a practical one? The other issue is that writers don’t just create content, they also consume it, especialy in their research. What will be the ultimate effect of this case on database costs? The true issue is something that goes beyond copyright law–the All-American Media Monopolies, including the database variety. Writers enjoy less and less bargaining power, especially in areas such as books.
“Of course, publishers are now forcing writers to sign contracts that make them give up syndication and database rights anyway.”
This is exactly what happened after a similar case in the Netherlands (Dutch) 8 years ago.
What’s really needed isn’t Tasini but well-enforced anti-trust law–in every country. In the e-book area, of course, open standards and nonproprietary DRM would be useful. No panacea. But they’d help break down the barriers to entry in areas such as distribution. Thanks for the info, Branko!