--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 14:31:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: USA NATIONAL ATLAS ONLINE <fwd>
Sender: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
The "it" that is being discussed here needs a little clarification. What
we have seen discussed, and raised as a scandalous problem, is the
republication of something that has no copyright, or for which the
copyright has expired.
U.S. government-published material has always been produced without rights
reserved by copyright. That means a commercial entity, such as a
publisher or cartographer or GIS producer, may re-publish the material
without the requirement of a payment for rights to the content. Many
items have been handled in this way, including census products such as
TIGER line maps, and also statistical books like County and City Data
Book. World Fact Book of the CIA is another popular item to repackage.
I see no wrongdoing on the part of publishers in doing this. Librarians
who consider placing an order for their collections should determine
whether the new product has enough added value to justify the purchase if
the original is already in the collection. This sounds to me like
something we do anyway, when we consider purchases for our collections.
Some materials do have added value, some do not. That is for the buyer to
determine. In the case of electronic products published by government
agencies, the value is often in making the material usable in formats
customers want. Some of these in their original version are in basic form
that only a technically proficient expert can use.
To say "Dover has been doing it for years" is doubly unfair because the
tone of the statement suggests this practice is less than ethical, and
second, fails to note the fact that the materials being published are in
the public domain. Modern Library, Penguin, Everyman's Library and others
regularly publish literary works for which copyright has expired. Dover
takes this to another level by publishing works prized for their
importance to science and technology, in very inexpensive editions that
are well bound for paperbacks. Sure, some libraries may have the
originals of these titles, but they may choose to buy another copy in the
full knowledge that the title is in the collection. It is wonderful that
these titles remain available when replacements are required. That is
what is meant by a "backlist publisher".
___________________________
Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
On Wed, 11 Oct 2000, Johnnie Sutherland wrote:
> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 20:37:11 -0500
> From: "Hjelmfelt Jr, Allen T." <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: RE: USA NATIONAL ATLAS ONLINE <fwd>
> Sender: "Hjelmfelt Jr, Allen T." <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> I feel the same way, however it is not new. Book companies, like Dover,
> have been doing it for years. Too, I wonder how many mapping programs are
> repackaging of a subset of TIGER.
>
> Allen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Johnnie Sutherland
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 10/9/00 12:18 PM
> Subject: FW: USA NATIONAL ATLAS ONLINE <fwd>
>
> Hello All,
>
> This came across my e-mail from Geonet two weeks ago, and I am
> surprised that it did not make it to Maps-L.
>
> This company has apparently downloaded the data from the
> National Atlas web site, repackaged it and is now selling web access to
> the National Atlas and is selling a CD-ROM version as well.
>
> The web site version (at least what can be used for free) seems
> to work faster than the National Atlas on the Web. However, I am not
> amused by the commercial aspect. The company does state that they are
> not affiliated with USGS and that it is not THE National Atlas. Somehow
> I feel a little uneasy about the prospect of data being repackaged and
> sold.
>
> Linda Zellmer
>
> *****************************
> Linda Zellmer
> Maps Librarian
> Arizona State University Libraries
> P.O. Box 871006
> Tempe, AZ 85287-1006
> [log in to unmask]
> Phone: (480)-965-5973
> Fax: (480)-965-0883
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carolyn J. Laffoon [ mailto:[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 12:37 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: USA NATIONAL ATLAS ONLINE
>
>
> Subject:
> USA NATIONAL ATLAS ONLINE
> Date:
> Tue, 26 Sep 2000 11:10:19 +0000
> From:
> "Information Dept." <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To:
> [log in to unmask]
> Organization:
> CD Vision (USA), INC.
>
>
>
> Announcing........US ATLAS 2000 ONLINE
>
>
> VISIT OUR WEB SITES :
>
> http://www.usatlas2000.com
> <http://www.usatlas2000.com>
>
> USA National Atlas ONLINE
>
> This is the first release of the USA National Atlas data Online
> containing:
>
> Map data layers compiled by the USGS as part of their National Atlas of
> USA(tm)Project.
> Plus Elevation and Geology
>
>
>
> We will continue updating the layers and software as new data become
> available
>
> Map Layers on THE US Atlas 2000 Online
>
> Geology
> Elevation
> Airports
> Principal Aquifers
> County Boundaries
> Cities & Towns
> Major Dams
> Federal and Indian Lands
> Hydrologic Unit Boundaries
> Seismic Events
> Streams and Waterbodies
> Agricultural Minerals Operations
> Construction Minerals Operations
> Ferrous Metal Mines
> Ferrous Metal Processing Plants
> Miscellaneous Industrial Minerals Operations
> Nonferrous Metal Mines
> Nonferrous Metal Processing Plants
> Refractory, Abrasive, and Other Industrial Minerals Operations
> Parkways and Scenic Rivers
> Railroads
> Roads
> States
> Urban Areas
> Volcanos
> Abandoned Mine Land Inventory - Coal Mine Related Problems
> --- End Forwarded Message ---
>
--- End Forwarded Message ---
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