Books go online for free in Norway by Martin Chilton.
From the post:
More than 135,000 books still in copyright are going online for free in Norway after an innovative scheme by the National Library ensured that publishers and authors are paid for the project.
The copyright-protected books (including translations of foreign books) have to be published before 2000 and the digitising has to be done with the consent of the copyright holders.
National Library of Norway chief Vigdis Moe Skarstein said the project is the first of its kind to offer free online access to books still under copyright, which in Norway expires 70 years after the author’s death. Books by Stephen King, Ken Follett, John Steinbeck, Jo Nesbø, Karin Fossum and Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun are among those in the scheme.
The National Library has signed an agreement with Kopinor, an umbrella group representing major authors and publishers through 22 member organisations, and for every digitised page that goes online, the library pays a predetermined sum to Kopinor, which will be responsible for distributing the royalties among its members. The per-page amount was 0.36 Norwegian kroner (four pence), which will decrease to three pence when the online collection reaches its estimated target of 250,000 books.
Norway has discovered a way out of the copyright conundrum, pay the man!
Can you imagine the impact if the United States were to bulk license all of the Springer publications in digital format?
Some immediate consequences:
- All citizen-innovators would have access to a vast library of high quality content, without restriction by place of employment or academic status.
- Taking over the cost of Springer materials would act as a additional funding for libraries with existing subscriptions.
- It would even out access to Springer materials across the educational system in the U.S.
- It would reduce the administrative burden on both libraries and Springer by consolidating all existing accounts into one account.
- Springer could offer “advanced” services in addition to basic search and content for additional fees, leveraged on top of the standard content.
- Other vendors could offer “advanced” services for fees leveraged on top of standard content.
I have nothing against the many “open access” journals but bear in mind the vast legacy of science and technology that remains the property of Springer and others.
The principal advantage that I would pitch to Springer would be the availability of its content under bulk licensing would result in other vendors building services on top of that content.
What advantage is there for Springer? Imagine that you can be either a road (content) or a convenience store (app. built on content) next to the road. Which one gets maintained longer?
Everybody has an interest in maintaining and even expanding the road. By becoming part of the intellectual infrastructure of education, industry and government, even more than it is now, Springer would secure a very stable and lucrative future.
Put that way, I would much rather be the road than the convenience store.
You?