Previously, a sound recording could not legally be a work for hire because it wasn't in any of the statutory categories. Sound recordings have now been added to the list of categories of works that are capable of being work for hire. RIAA-sponsored "technical amendment" to a Congressional bill makes recorded music "works for hire" under the 1978 US Copyright Act. Now Under Section 101 of the Copyright Act, a work that is specially commissioned (read, not created by a full-time employee in the scope of his employement) can be a work made for hire and if there is an agreement signed by both parties which says it is a work made for hire.
THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
Copyright is not a divine right: Delhi HC
Observing that " copyright is not a divine right", the Delhi high court on Friday allowed Delhi
University to issue photocopies of major textbooks published by leading publishers. The Justice held that the act
of students getting books copied from DU's library or its authorised photocopy shop enjoys protection under
Section 52 of the Copyright Act, which exempts education from copyright infringement. In a 94-page order, the
court essentially concluded that if DU can photocopy content within its library to impart education to students,
then similar protection is enjoyed by the contractor, Rameshwari Photocopy Service. The modest shop in North
Campus was thrust at the heart of the case by international publishers who sued it for copyright infringement in
2012, resulting in Friday's landmark verdict on intellectual property rights. "Copyright, specially in
literary works, is thus not an inevitable, divine, or natural right that confers on authors the absolute ownership
of their creations. It is designed rather to stimulate activity and progress in the arts for the intellectual
enrichment of the public," the Justice observed.
EU Announces That All Scientific Articles Should Be
Freely Accessible by 2020
In what has been called a "life changing decision," the European Union's ministers of Science,
Innovation, Trade, and Industry have decided to give individuals free access to science papers by 2020.
FREE KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL
it would totally transform the (long questioned) paid-for subscription model that is used by many scientific
journals. It would also undermine the common practice of releasing reports under embargo (a method that allows
scientific journals to favor certain science communicators and members of the media to the great detriment of
others).
France: Open Access law
adopted
In France, the final text of a new law on Open Access has been adopted on June 29, 2016. On July 20, the Assemblée
Nationale has approved the bill, and it still needs to be voted on by the Sénat on September 27. In the law text,
article 17 is relevant for Open Access: