Do you know what type of lending models and licences are available for the distribution of literary resources? Have you considered the challenges involved for education/libraries with digital literature licensing agreements? What are the issues involved in DRM, and how can they best be handled?

Christopher wrote:

“The biggest issue I can see with DRM is the lack of user knowledge about the sort of restrictions encompassed prior to selecting a book. For instance, if a user is completing a parody or satire, legally they are allowed to copy the work. However, their access can be restricted through DRM locks and chains, limiting the download or printability. This could have been bypassed if the user had known the limitations of DRM in the work or selected a physical book.”

Responding to his reflection, I added the following:

I completely agree with you Christopher; user knowledge about restrictions is definitly an implication I have also noted. I have found that teachers/student aids, were not aware that digital (and physical) works could be used differently for students with disabilities under Aus fair dealing and the Copyright Act. If anyone is interested in reading more about Copyright and Disability support I’d suggest reading the following article: https://www.adcet.edu.au/disability-practitioner/your-role/copyright-and-disability-in-education

I’ve also found that licensing terms can be rather confusing, and need to be made more clearer to all parties involved, especially librarians as it can impede the libraries ability to archive, preserve, access, and facilitate works (O’Brien et al., 2012, p. 16). When I was a relieveing librarian, I was completely lost at times as to how to deal with licensing – especially when classroom teachers brought software or applications that they wanted all students to use, but licensing prohibited this. It made things incredibly hard as it often seemed there were practical and contractual ambiguties (Colebatch, 2013, p. 15).

References

Colebatch, C. (2013). Pick your digital lock battle: Is it the law or licenses we should be worried about? Feliciter, 59(1), 15. http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=85444929&site=ehost-live

O’Brien, D., Gasser, U., & Palfrey, J. (2012). E-books in libraries: A briefing document developed in preparation for a workshop on e-lending in libraries. Berkman Center Research Publication. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2111396.