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Non-Profit Org Claims Rights In Library Catalog Data

Posted by timothy on from the paging-dr-gracenote dept.

lamona writes "The main source of the bibliographic records that are carried in library databases is a non-profit organization called OCLC. Over the weekend OCLC 'leaked' its new policy that claims contractual rights in the subsequent uses of the data, uses such as downloading book information into Zotero or other bibliographic software. The policy explicitly forbids any use that would compete with OCLC. This would essentially rule out the creation of free and open databases of library content, such as the Open Library and LibraryThing. The library blogosphere is up in arms . But can our right to say: "Twain, Mark. The adventures of Tom Sawyer" be saved?"

3 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. The library blogosphere is up in arms! by genner · · Score: 5, Funny

    God help us all.

  2. Re:DDS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I used to steal cards out of the card file when I was young... can I claim prior art?

  3. Re:First of all... by philspear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Circuit city seems to be doing its best.