The Librarian's Legal Companion for Licensing Information Resources and Services

摘要

In the rapid transition from print journals to electronic formats, librarians have been forced to realise that their knowledge of copyright law is no longer the key area because buying access to journals through licensed databases will usually require familiarity with contract law. This new book by Lipinski, a vastly experienced writer with a legal and academic background, provides the reader with both basic and advanced concepts in contract and licensing law. This is a huge book at over 700 pages. It is divided into three parts; part 1 lays out the essential concepts of contract law; part 2 describes the general categories of licenses that libraries are most likely to use, including those for non-print resources. Part 3 introduces the practical to the mix, including a 'Basic Licensing Glossary' of numerous license terms; a detailed analysis of four actual licenses (i.e. BioOne, NewspaperARCHIVE, Nature, and Amazon's Kindle); key issues to look for in licensing agreements, accompanied by sample clauses to look for in licenses; and a list of over 100 questions to ask when evaluating specific licenses. The book has a detailed table of contents and a good subject index. There is an extensive glossary and a separate index for referenced cases and laws.