Ironically, the full text of this article is available to paid subscribers only (one of the dumber content decisions the Chronicle editors have made); this link is to a mirror of parts of the article posted by Peter Suber. An excerpt: "Today...licensing is taking over the world of academic libraries, and putting scholars' ability to exchange information at risk. Stories of draconian contract terms in licenses from software vendors and the publishers of electronic databases and periodical indexes circulate like tall tales --but they are usually true....UCITA poses real threats to our traditional rights as scholars, researchers, and teachers. The free and unfettered exchange of information that has characterized the scholarly communications system for so long is in danger." UCITA, as the artilce explains, "is a model law, proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, that would set new rules in all states for licensing software and every other form of digital information."
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