Randy Riddle suggests: >It would make seem to make sense (and seem to be allowable to me, at >least) to put a VHS copy of a laserdisc on reserve IF the original >laserdisc was not circulated or viewed at the same time. My reading of articles about these issues indicates that an Archive can make a circulating/viewing copy of an item as long as the archived copy is not circulated. Thus, Randy's proposal corresponds to my understanding of the law. (I too am not a lawyer; I've just spent a lot of time reading on these issues.) Note the stipulation that the original item can't be viewed or circulated at the same time, however. So Mike Abbott or his library would have to be sure the original laserdisc was safely archived while the ONE copy was on reserve. >However, since laserdiscs are not very common, it would seem that the >law would allow for access to the material through a different medium >in this educational situation. Shifting to another more accessible medium would not be a justification. (In fact it might produce a violation of what are called "deriviative rights.") Archives commonly do, however, make their one viewing copy in a different medium for access. Again, I encourage Mike Abbott to talk to his library or A-V viewing center to determine what it is willing to do (depending on the institution's lawyers' views of these matters). Good luck, Janet Staiger, University of Texas at Austin Janet Staiger Professor of Radio-Television-Film Director, College of Communications Senior Fellows Program University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 USA 512-741-6653 (office) 512-329-5104 (home) 512-329-5144 (home fax) [log in to unmask] ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]