More on the database bill....Four major library groups have sent an open letter opposing the bill to James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In addition to specific objections to the bill, the open letter contains this paragraph: "Finally, as described in the enclosed article and editorial from the Washington Post and the New York Times, the scientific and research communities are moving in a very new and exciting direction to spur the advancement of knowledge. The new approach, 'open access,' encourages and supports the greater sharing of data and information across and between disciplines to promote the advancement of science and innovation. Many in the scientific community are embracing this new dissemination model for several reasons: restrictive licensing terms and conditions, the high cost of journals, and the opportunity to better realize the benefits of the information technologies utilized in support of research. Thus the approach taken in the draft database bill is strikingly at odds with how the research and education communities are increasingly engaging in scientific and research discovery."
Posted by
Peter Suber at 9/09/2003 09:46:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
