The Internet Archive launched a new service yesterday, bringing free access to more than 1 million books in the specially designed format to support those who are blind, dyslexic or are otherwise print-impaired.
This is great news just in terms of giving so many people easier access to books, but it’s also interesting as an application of a little-known provision of U.S. copyright law — the Chafee Amendment of 1996, which states:
“…it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity to reproduce or to distribute copies or phonorecords of a previously published, nondramatic literary work if such copies or phonorecords are reproduced or distributed in specialized formats exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities.”
The new service demonstrates the principle behind the Chafee Amendment: that copyright is a conditional monopoly, not a property right, and that when we decide the monopoly is hampering an important public purpose, we can change it. The Chafee Amendment is an open acknowledgement that monopoly-based distribution was not serving the needs of the blind, the visually impaired, or dyslexic people very well, and that fixing that situation is simply a policy decision. It reminds us that copyright itself is a policy decision, and that if it is not serving the public well, we can change the policy.
The Internet Archive’s press release is below:
More than doubling the number of books available to print disabled people of all ages, today the Internet Archive launched a new service that brings free access to more than 1 million books — from classic 19th century fiction and current novels to technical guides and research materials — now available in the specially designed format to support those who are blind, dyslexic or are otherwise visually impaired.
“Every person deserves the opportunity to enhance their lives through access to the books that teach, entertain and inspire,” said Brewster Kahle, founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive. “Bringing access to huge libraries of books to the blind and print disabled is truly one of benefits of the digital revolution.”
Kahle also announced that the Internet Archive will be investing in the growth of its virtual bookshelf by funding the digitization of the first 10,000 books donated. Individuals and organizations are welcome to donate their favorite book or a collection of books. Books in all languages welcome. To donate books visit: http://openlibrary.org/bookdrive
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Blind people must have access to repositories of digital information if we are to reach our goal of becoming full and equal participants in society. Access to the books that have been scanned by the Internet Archive in a format accessible to the blind will be another step toward that goal. We are excited about continuing to work with Internet Archive to make access to more books a reality.”
The 1 million+ books in the Internet Archive’s library for print disabled, are scanned from hard copy books then digitized into DAISY — a specialized format used by blind or other persons with disabilities, for easy navigation. Files are downloaded to devices that translate the text and read the books aloud for the user to enjoy. To access books visit: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/accessible_book
Jessie Lorenz is a 31 year old woman who was born blind and is the Associate Director of at the Independent Living Resource Center in San Francisco. She believes, “Knowledge is power – and like everyone else, blind and print disabled people need equitable access to books to help them be innovative, productive, contributing community members.”
Older books are available from the Internet Archive’s unencrypted DAISY library and modern books can be accessed by “qualified users” through their NLS key — an encrypted code provided by the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), that is dedicated to providing materials to the print disabled. Currently, over 800,000 people in the US are registered with the Library of Congress as being print disabled.
As of today, the Internet Archive offers over one million books for print disabled people. Other large libraries for the print disabled including NLS, Bookshare.org, and Reading for the Blind & Dyslexic.
“This demonstrates why having open and public access to published works is so important,” said Kahle.
Ben Foss, President of Headstrong, an advocacy group for people with dyslexia said, “As dyslexic and print-disabled students scramble to complete their end-of-year research papers and projects, beginning today, there is a great new library of resources that will expand the tools these young people need to be successful in school and in life.”
By leveraging automated scanning and conversion processes, Internet Archive technicians can conduct a cost-efficient scan of more than one thousand books per day. Books are scanned at sites located in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and other major cities in five countries. Most of the older scanned books have been reformatted for the print-disabled from broad digitizing projects. Scanned physical books came from the collections of over 150 libraries, most of which are in the Open Content Alliance, but others as well. The funding of those scanning projects is coming from foundations, corporations and governments.
Most of the older books have been scanned from library collections, with newer books having been donated to the Internet Archive by companies such as the online bookseller Alibris, libraries and individuals.
The print disabled collection of books are now available through the Archive’s new Open Library site (www.openlibrary.org), which serves as a gateway to information about millions of hardcopy books and more than 1 million electronic books.
The Internet Archive will continually increase the number books it makes available. They are currently seeking donations of books and ebooks from individuals, libraries and publishers. The Archive is announcing today its commitment to fund the scanning and automatic processing of the first 10,000 donated books. Any organization or individual that would like to make particular books or collections available are encouraged to donate them by sending them to the Internet Archive. For donations of large collections please contact the Internet Archive. Financial support is also welcome to expand the program.
To access all books, a United States resident with print disabilities must register with the Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/nls/signup.html.
The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded to build an Internet library. Its missions are to offer universal access to all knowledge and provide specialized services for adaptive reading and information access for the blind and other persons with disabilities. Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue, San Francisco California 94118, info@archive.org, www.archive.org www.openlibrary.org +1-415-561-6767.
Press contact: Pattie Haubner phaubner@douglasgould.com
(914) 833-7093, (914) 275-2984
Sounds wonderful!
Elton J Robb
nice post thanks a lot
If you think any artist wants an end to copyright, you are an idiot. We want to be compensated, just like anyone else who works for a living. Stop looking for free handouts off our efforts!
Karl Fogel, President of QuestionCopyright.org, is an author of two books, both of which he has copylefted.
So you don’t consider nina paley an artist? How about the singer/songwriters who are against copyright? Do they not count either?
I’ve got my first private commission as a professional Illustrator, and I still want copyright to end since I can bet more out of my work without copyright than with it. Actually, it’s more like I’ll be getting more out of my own name.
We are all for Attribution and credit. But copyright gets into the way of being paid for our good names and credit for work we have created. Copyright is nothing more than a monopoly over distribution. There is only one natural “monopoly” available to each one of us and that is credit to our own name.
Elton J Robb.
The use of the Chafee Amendment quote in the news post is unwarranted, that is a low blow from anyone wanting credibility from this site, that Amendment is there for persons with disabilities, not for the justification of any other copyright crusade.
How exactly is it a low blow? The introduction to the post explains the relevance pretty directly…
“How exactly is it a low blow? The introduction to the post explains the relevance pretty directly…”
The introduction is not the problem, it is your band wagon hopping after the quote that is unwarranted, the Chafee Amendment is there for the disabled and not the public as a whole. Using any form of amendment to the law that helps the disabled to justify your crusade is a low blow wether you choose to accept the fact or not.
It is not a low blow. It shows the benefits of exceptions to copyright. Therefore it is relevant to this site even if it is not for the public as a whole.
“It is not a low blow. It shows the benefits of exceptions to copyright. Therefore it is relevant to this site even if it is not for the public as a whole.”
The Chafee Amendment is not an exception to copyright, the copyright still stands. All the amendment does is take out of the equation those that need to be contacted each time for permission to reproduce copyrighted items for the disabled. The amendment clearly states ‘an authorized entity’, the job of that entity is made easier by the amendment, meaning it is easier for the disabled to acquire the copyrighted items.
If you think it relevant to use an amendment such as this to bolster the site and campaign, then good luck to you, but when people start being outraged and shout out ‘cheap shot’ or ‘low blow’, don’t forget you were forewarned!.
“All the amendment does is take out of the equation those that need to be contacted each time for permission to reproduce copyrighted items for the disabled.”
In other words, an exception to the copyright on the book. You’ve tried to argue with me while agreeing with me. How odd.
“In other words, an exception to the copyright on the book.”
It is the over-simplifying and generalizing like that which blows out of the water any possible chance of copyright holders actually sitting up and listening. Copyright holders mainly use the copyright to protect the work from unauthorized duplication, with the Chafee Amendment the copyright still stands, the copyright is carried over by the ‘authorized entity’ which reproduces the material for the disabled. The Chafee Amendment is not classed as an exception to copyright, it really is nothing more than simplifying the copyright process, which in turn benefits the disabled.
“You’ve tried to argue with me while agreeing with me. How odd.”
I have not tried to argue with anyone, I have tried to explain in simple terms what the Chafee Amendment actually does, and whilst doing so, point out the possible ramifications if such an amendment were used to bolster the campaign for copyright reform.
The amendment clearly states ‘an authorized entity’, the job of that entity is made easier by the amendment, meaning it is easier for the disabled to acquire the copyrighted items.
print disabled