Open access advocates seek to block Research Works Act in US - January 9, 2012
A new bill called the Research Works Act has been introduced into the US House of Representatives. The bill is designed to roll back the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy and block the development of similar policies at other federal agencies. Co-sponsored by… Read More
US Senators seek investigation into Google’s search results - December 20, 2011
US Senators Herb Kohl and Mike Lee are reportedly urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, unfairly favours its own properties in search results. Kohl and Lee, both members of the Senate’s… Read More
UK taking steps to make publicly funded research freely available online - December 12, 2011
The UK government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) recently released a report – titled 'Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth' - stating that all scientific research funded by British taxpayers will be made available online free of charge. The website,… Read More
EC opens formal proceedings to investigate sales of e-books by five publishers - December 7, 2011
The European Commission (EC) has opened formal antitrust proceedings to investigate whether five international publishers have, possibly with the help of Apple, engaged in anti-competitive practices affecting the sale of e-books in the European Economic Area (EEA)1, in breach of EU antitrust rules. The opening of… Read More
Director of US Copyright Office announces priorities, special projects for next two years - October 26, 2011
Non-profit copyright licensing solutions provider Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), US, has welcomed the announcement by the US Register of Copyrights, Maria Pallante, of her priorities for the next two years. Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante recently made public her office’s priorities and special projects… Read More
University of Michigan to rework orphan works identification as project gets suspended - September 26, 2011
The University of Michigan has suspended its orphan works digitisation project in response to the copyright infringement lawsuit filed against it and four other universities, including Cornell. According to Paul Courant, Dean of Libraries at the University of Michigan, the system for identifying orphan works is… Read More
