Articles from November 2005

What We’ve Been Doing

November 10th, 2005 · 4 Comments

A few may have wondered what we do with our days. Funny story, that. We’ve gotten involved in a cause: protecting the rights of journalists to keep their sources confidential. Oh, yes, we know — that’s last month’s news. We’re behind on everything in life. Sue us. Now that we’re on the project, we’re on […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Presumably Books Contribute To IP Numbers As Well

November 10th, 2005 · Comments Off on Presumably Books Contribute To IP Numbers As Well

It turns out that intellectual property is the stuff that drives the American economic engine. Oh, man, we so have to stop typing sentences like that. They are painful on so many levels. NBC Universal went out and did a study on how much IP contributes to the economy. It turns out to be a […]

File Under: Our Continuing Fascination With Copyright

There Is No Honor In Killing

November 9th, 2005 · 3 Comments

KABUL, Afghanistan Nov 8, 2005 — Poet Nadia Anjuman was beaten to death, and her husband and mother have been arrested. The United Nations condemned the killing Tuesday as symptom of continuing violence against Afghan women four years after the fall of the Taliban. UN condemns sexist killing of Afghan poet

File Under: Square Pegs

And Then There’s Reality

November 9th, 2005 · Comments Off on And Then There’s Reality

What with all the brouhaha over the notion of Google Print, it nearly went unnoticed that the actual service went live this week. Now is the time for friends and countrymen to actually check out the service; there is a rumor that facts help with the decision-making process. While we don’t subscribe to this notion, […]

File Under: Our Continuing Fascination With Copyright

The Poor Books Starving In Garretts

November 8th, 2005 · Comments Off on The Poor Books Starving In Garretts

There is a lot of innovative thinking going on the world of publishing these days. Oh sure, the media is all hot about a dozen other topics, but those of us who care seek out the news we need. Hmm, maybe that should be those of us who care clearly need to get lives. Or […]

File Under: Our Continuing Fascination With Copyright · Square Pegs

There Is Weird, Then There Is Weird

November 8th, 2005 · 4 Comments

When a book goes directly to the remainder bin, generally there is a good reason. By all accounts, the novel by Irve Lewis “Scooter” Libby did not pass go, did not collect 00*. It was yet another novel doomed to die unlamented. Then the author went and got himself indicted — great news for the […]

File Under: Square Pegs

The Downside of Books By The Page

November 6th, 2005 · 2 Comments

It is somewhat sad, but we can see how this is going to work: the girl you’re trying to score with calls, all excited. “You’ll never believe this, but Kurt Vonnegut will be coming to my dinner party. You’ll be sitting right next to him — how cool is that? You can talk about Welcome […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

Why The Patent Office Needs To Modernize (Or At Least Computerize)

November 6th, 2005 · Comments Off on Why The Patent Office Needs To Modernize (Or At Least Computerize)

If you pay attention (and surely you do), you know that the World of Patents is where the strangest and most dangerous battles are fought. Patents are dangerous because they don’t necessarily involve things as much as ideas. You cannot copyright an idea, but you can patent one. Appropriate caveats duly noted. This plays out […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

Where Boys Will Be Boys

November 6th, 2005 · Comments Off on Where Boys Will Be Boys

Last week, someone mentioned that Microsoft is starting its own digital library project — yes, kids, we’re sitting on the sidelines of what may become the world’s most fascinating* pissing match; let’s call it “My Digital Library Is Bigger Than Yours”. Despite the legal opposition, we’re putting our money on Google. Call us old fashioned, […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

Coming Attractions: The Copyright Extension Act of 2018

November 3rd, 2005 · 6 Comments

Our issue with copyright extensions has always been the lack of quid pro quo: the public protects your right to exploit and profit from your work through laws and enforcement. In return for this service, you, the artist, give back to the public by allowing your work to enter the public domain after a reasonable […]

File Under: Our Continuing Fascination With Copyright