Monday, January 30, 2012

Levels of copyright and some questions

Amy, Jenica and Andy brought up some good questions concerning copyright, and the copying of music and audio files from library materials, and should librarians talk to (confront?) a patron concerning actions that could be deemed to be illegal. But, there are a whole range of actions that patrons could do with library materials (either in the library or with the materials checked out).  At what point should I mention something about copyright to the patron?
  1. Patron checks out a CD from the library.
  2. Patron checks out a music CD, and tells the circulation person that the CD will be returned tomorrow because the person is going to rip the music to their iTunes library.
  3. Patron checks out 20 music CDs, and tells the circulation person that the CDs will be returned tomorrow because the person is going to rip the music to their iTunes library.
  4. Patron checks out 20 audio CDs (audio book) and listens to them in a CD player.
  5. Patron copies 20 checked out music CDs to a computer at home.
  6. Patron starts copying those 20 checked out audio CDs to a laptop in the library.
  7. Patron copies the 20 audio CDs at home and then deletes the files after three weeks once the book is due back to the library.
  8. Patron copies the 20 audio CDs at home and then deletes the files after six months once the person is done listening to the book.
  9. Patron copies the 20 audio CDs at home, listens to the book, and forgets to delete the files from the iPod.
  10. Patron purchased a Beatles album in 1964, now copies the same CD to their iPod.
  11. Patron purchased a Journey tape in 1983, now copies the same CD to their iPod.
  12. Patron purchased a Rush CD in 1996, lost the CD, and copies the same library CD to their iPod.
  13. Patron starts copying lots of CDs from the library collection within the library without checking the materials out.
I am sure there are plenty of other scenarios, but I am not sure at which point I should approach the patron.  Even with the egregious case where the person is copying 20 CDs to a laptop within the library, the person could only be intending to load the music or audio book for the next 2-3 weeks for the checkout period.  I have no idea how long the person plans on keeping that information.  [I know that I could ask.] When should I warn the patron about copyright law?  

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