As reported recently in the Chronicle of Higher Education (see below), there is currently a drive by film preservationists to reclaim the public domain via legislation. (The link below requires a subscription to the Chronicle.) One aspect of this drive is an online petition advocating: "We, the undersigned, while believing in the importance of copyright, also believe in the importance of the public domain. We believe the public domain is crucial to the spread of knowledge and culture, and crucial in assuring access to our past. We therefore write to petition you to reconsider major changes that you have made to the copyright system. These changes unnecessarily threaten the public domain without any corresponding benefit to copyright holders." Although I'm extremely skeptical of the impact of any online petition, I have signed this one--figuring, well, it can't hurt. Apparently, as of 24 June, 15,037 others feel the same way. To add your name, go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/eldred/petition.html ----- Forwarded message from The Chronicle <[log in to unmask]> ----- Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 05:00:05 EDT From: The Chronicle <[log in to unmask]> Subject: 6/24/2003 Daily Report from The Chronicle of Higher Education ACADEME TODAY: The Chronicle of Higher Education's Daily Report for subscribers _________________________________________________________________ * FILM PRESERVATIONISTS and archivists are urging Congress to approve legislation that would make it easier for scholars to restore old movies that are copyright protected. --> SEE http://chronicle.com/daily/2003/06/2003062401t.htm ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Jeremy Butler Professor Telecommunication and Film Dept./University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu