The Association of American Publishers has welcomed the re-introduction of legislation to safeguard the rights of authors and publishers of copyrighted, peer-reviewed scientific journal articles. The Fair Copyright in Research Works Act, HR 801, was re-introduced in response to a government mandate that allows the National Institutes of Health to make the content of publishers' value-added, peer-reviewed journal articles freely available online within 12 months of publication.
The legislation would recognise the importance of the added value in quality assurance controls that journal publishers contribute to ensure the integrity of such articles as key components of the nation's record on scientific research. Also, it would help keep the Federal Government from undermining copyright protection for journal articles where private-sector publishers have added such significant value.
The legislation would address serious concerns that the mandate is inconsistent with policies underlying U.S. copyright law and undermines the nation's ability to comply with international copyright treaty obligations. Background information and a detailed discussion of the concerns addressed by the Fair Copyright in Research Works Act is available online at www.pspcentral.org.
