--- Forwarded Message from Ursula Williams <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 14:45:45 -0500
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Ursula Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Where would copyright jail be?

Colleagues, I present a hypothetical situation and ask your advice:

(Note consistent use of subjunctive to confirm the hypothetical
nature of this inquiry.)

Suppose that in anticipation of getting permission (as has always
been the case with a particular publisher) a lab made copies for
students of ancillary material (delivered by the prof, as usual, the
day before class) and sent the request for permission the same day.
Suppose, then, that ten days later, permission was denied.

Would that lab have to cease and desist, explaining that no further
copies would be made? (I should think so.)

It would be, of course, impossible to recall the copies that had
already been made.

Would "anticipation of the usual positive response" be an adequate defense?

(Could the fact that one only just now changed one's area code below,
after six months of having it contribute to "habitual offender"
status?)
--
Ursula Williams

Director, Language Resource Center
http://www.nd.edu/~lrc
201 O'Shaughnessy Hall
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, In 46556
574.631.5881

ancora imparo