Comments on: Labour to hold copyright forum in Auckland http://blog.labour.org.nz/2009/06/28/labour-to-hold-copyright-forum-in-auckland/ A blog written by Labour MPs Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:29:08 +1300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Andrew U D Straw http://blog.labour.org.nz/2009/06/28/labour-to-hold-copyright-forum-in-auckland/comment-page-1/#comment-8137 Andrew U D Straw Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:53:31 +0000 http://blog.labour.org.nz/?p=927#comment-8137 NZ needs to reassure Google that it can offer access to all scanned books here without fear of lawsuits. Google is setting up the world's most massive library, but it is going to restrict access to the USA only because other countries could bash them over the head with restrictive copyright laws. Even countries like NZ allow libraries the right to lend out books without paying a royalty each time someone checks something out. This is just a big, world-wide library. And if someone has a problem with the ads they will place along the edges, just look at that as the vending machines (or other paid services) you often find in a library. Kiwis need access to that resource. Give Google what they need to provide access here, and proactively work towards an international regime that will make this resource available everywhere. Imagine people in Mali or Sudan being able to have access to all the world's books with the investment of a computer and Internet connection. And of course there is the benefit to the disabled. Reading ordinary, paper books presents the blind with serious problems. When books are scanned and text-readable, there are software programs which will read the text out loud. And for those with vision problems, JAWS can be used to magnify text and make it easier to use. Google's online library will be so significant that it should be recognized by UNESCO as a world treasure. Let's make sure the whole world, including NZ, has access. NZ needs to reassure Google that it can offer access to all scanned books here without fear of lawsuits. Google is setting up the world’s most massive library, but it is going to restrict access to the USA only because other countries could bash them over the head with restrictive copyright laws. Even countries like NZ allow libraries the right to lend out books without paying a royalty each time someone checks something out. This is just a big, world-wide library. And if someone has a problem with the ads they will place along the edges, just look at that as the vending machines (or other paid services) you often find in a library.

Kiwis need access to that resource. Give Google what they need to provide access here, and proactively work towards an international regime that will make this resource available everywhere. Imagine people in Mali or Sudan being able to have access to all the world’s books with the investment of a computer and Internet connection.

And of course there is the benefit to the disabled. Reading ordinary, paper books presents the blind with serious problems. When books are scanned and text-readable, there are software programs which will read the text out loud. And for those with vision problems, JAWS can be used to magnify text and make it easier to use.

Google’s online library will be so significant that it should be recognized by UNESCO as a world treasure. Let’s make sure the whole world, including NZ, has access.

]]> By: Simon http://blog.labour.org.nz/2009/06/28/labour-to-hold-copyright-forum-in-auckland/comment-page-1/#comment-2279 Simon Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:17:17 +0000 http://blog.labour.org.nz/?p=927#comment-2279 <I>And anyone’s welcome who has an interest in the copyright issue and who will make a positive contribution.</I> That's Labour party members excluded then. And anyone’s welcome who has an interest in the copyright issue and who will make a positive contribution.

That’s Labour party members excluded then.

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