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The US Google Book Settlement - February Update |
1: is the Settlement definitely going ahead? |
ISA clearances for writers |
Authors Visiting Schools / The Vetting and Barring Scheme |
The future of public libraries |
In 2008 the Department for Culture Media and Sport announced that it was carrying out a ‘modernisation review’ of public libraries. We were expecting a comprehensive action plan to emerge. However in December 2009 - more than a year later - the Arts Minister, Margaret Hodge, launched a ‘consultation document’, Empower, Inform, Enrich. |
Libel law - campaign for reform |
The Society has given its enthusiastic backing to an initiative of English PEN and Index on Censorship. After a year-long enquiry the two organisations concluded that English libel law has a seriously detrimental impact on freedom of expression. |
Online book piracy |
We are aware of US companies such as Scribd.com that allow complete, in-copyright texts to be uploaded to their websites. This is being done very often, it seems, without the permission of the copyright owners. We are monitoring developments and our advice to members is to get in touch with your publisher who should agree to instruct the website to implement its takedown procedure. |