--- Forwarded Message from "Ross, Andrew" <[log in to unmask]> --- >Subject: IALLT Journal Special Issue #1 -- Call for Submissions >Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 15:45:27 -0500 >Thread-Topic: IALLT Journal Special Issue #1 -- Call for Submissions >Thread-Index: AcU2+ImUsKJUsVSPQsaOh4eN3dJGtwAANifA >From: "Ross, Andrew" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum" <[log in to unmask]> Dear All: Please read and pass this along to anyone at your institution (or elsewhere) whom you think might be interested in submitting an article: ============================ CALL FOR PAPERS As an extension and expansion of the recent discussion on LLTI, the IALLT Journal would like to dedicate a special issue to the changing status of the Language Center within the academy of the 21st century. IALLT members are encouraged to submit articles and essays that reflect upon the changes their centers have undergone owing to developments in technologies, new mandates from institutional administrations, constrained budgets, distance education as a mode of teaching and learning, and other forces that are rapidly shaping how language centers meet the needs of their constituents and the demands of their institutions. Likewise, the IALLT Journal would like to hear from the directors of centers that have been closed, or whose missions have been expanded or altered to the point that "language center" may no longer apply to them. Ideas, abstracts, papers, and questions should be sent to Andrew Ross ([log in to unmask]) and Jorg Waltje ([log in to unmask]). ============================ Best, a. Andrew F. Ross, Ph.D Director, Language Resource Center Brown University Box 1935 Providence, RI 02912-1935 Tel: (401) 863-7010 Mobile: (401) 641-0329 ****************** "Worrying about a large institution, especially when it has computers, is like worrying about a large gorilla, especially when it's on fire." - Bruce Sterling -----Original Message----- From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 3:21 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: #7859 DVD restrictions --- Forwarded Message from Scott Williams <[log in to unmask]> --- >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> >References: <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:14:17 -0600 >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >From: Scott Williams <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: DVD restrictions Hi everybody, I would like to start a discussion about DVD zone restrictions and copyright infringment. Specifically, to what extent does the manner in which the film industry carves up the world into regions, incompatible with each other, constitute undo restriction of access? I DO NOT, however, want this to be a whine fest. Rather, as we approach the next IALLT meeting within the context of FLEAT, I thought this might be an interesting topic to discuss. When Susan Kornfield spoke at the last IALLT in Michigan, it was fascinating to learn how Anglo-Saxon copyright laws were intended more to insure public access to information and art rather than merely protect ownership (which it, of course, also does). In the case of video tapes, there are real quality issues regarding NTSC, PAL, BETA, etc. However, for DVDs it is in no way an objective quality issue, but rather only a tool for controlling the market. Therefore, any film made and sold in, say, Germany that is not also marketed in this country presents undo problems. The consumer is forced to buy a 'special' device to view it. And the industry would like to restrict sales of these devices, too. Even a foreign film that is marketed in the US does not necessarily offer the same features as the same film marketed in other zones. For instance, the subtitled language offerings can change depending on the zone. Is it a reasonable measure by the industry to control distribution and marketing? Or, in this global economy, does it represent illegal collusion infringing on reasonable public access to all works of art? If we, as a group, feel the industry is within its rights, then we must reconcile ourselves to the possibility that we may someday not even be able to buy devices that play all zones. If we, as a group, feel that the industry is overstepping its bounds, then we must consider positive means through which we can help in effecting change. So, what do you think? Scott *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning, and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://consortium.dartmouth.edu). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************