Copyright in the networked world

Abstract

Purpose – This column seeks to look at the case of a long-standing project to arrange document delivery between US and German libraries. This case represents the broader problem of international document delivery. Design/methodology/approach – The primary methodology is anthropological. The column considers cultural and economic differences and assumptions, as well as differences between the law codes that enable document delivery. Findings – Document delivery is at least temporarily impossible from Germany to the USA owing to lawsuits and agreements within Germany. The introduction of Digital Rights Management (DRM) software into new agreements may lead to programs with seriously abbreviated rights for users. Originality/value – The case of US-German document delivery has particular importance because of the amount of research contact between the two countries and because of the substantial differences in their legal systems and their copyright laws.