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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes The broadcasting and diffusion by cable of works protected by copyright have given rise to new
problems resulting from technological advances which may require a review by governments
of their national copyright legislation. The advances include the use of space satellites to extend
the range of wireless signals, the increasing possibilities of linking radio and television receivers
to signals diffused by cable, and the increasing use of equipment able to record sound and visual
images which are broadcast or diffused by cable.

Did u know? Recent international developments also allow for works to be protected in
the context of the Internet. The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), concluded in 1996, addresses
the challenges posed by today’s digital technology, thus ensuring that copyright owners
will be adequately and effectively protected when their works are disseminated through
new technology and communications systems such as the Internet.

Moral Rights

The Berne Convention requires member countries to grant to authors:
the right to claim authorship of the work. That is basically the right of the creator to have
his or her name mentioned as the author, in particular when the work is used.
the right to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory
action in relation to, the work which would be prejudicial to the author’s honour or
reputation.
These rights are independent of the usual economic rights and they are to remain with the
author even after he has transferred his economic rights. It follows that moral rights may be
exercised even after the author has parted with his economic rights. Hence if an author of a novel
has transferred his right to publish and distribute the novel to a publisher, the latter becomes the
new owner of the publication rights, under the terms of the contract. However the author retains
the right to claim authorship of the work, for example, or to object to non-authorized
modifications to the work.

Task Do you agree that printing and computing technology brought about dramatic
changes in the scope and meaning of copyright? If yes give reasons.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. Copyright subsists only in the material form in which the ideas are expressed.
2. The second requirement of copyright ability is that the work is an ‘idea’ of, rather than an
‘expression’ as such.
3. The period of copyright for a photograph is sixty years from the year of its publication.
4. The right of the owner of copyright to prevent others from making copies of his works is
the most basic right under copyright.
5. Translation means the expression of a work in a language other than that of the original
version.

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