[Open-access] Letter to publishers - URGENT

[Mike Taylor]

On 5 March 2012 14:33, cameronneylon.net <cn at cameronneylon.net> wrote:
> One minor suggestion...
>
> Second para suggest replace "and publish the output as CC0" with "and publish the resulting data output under a Creative Commons Zero waiver"

Or indeed just "in the public domain" -- the use of CC0 in particular
seems like unnecessary detail.  And we know that at least some
publishers COMPLETELY misunderstand what Creative Commons is -- see
this comment thread:

http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2012/02/12/revisiting-a-little-known-rwa-of-the-past-the-restaurant-welfare-act-of-1958/#comment-43748

-- Mike.



>
> Cheers
>
> Cameron
>
>
> On 5 Mar 2012, at 14:14, Douglas Carnall wrote:
>
>> I humbly offer the following text as a possible revision in the light
>> of this morning's discussion. I hope it is a helpful contribution to
>> the drafting process.
>>
>> Briefly, I have substituted "fundamental" for absolute,  replaced
>> "arbitrarily large amounts" with "without limitation", and "whenever
>> they wish" by "entire current" (which means the old footnote 7 becomes
>> the new note 4), and inserted a footnote [2] on being nice with the
>> server (thus renumbering successive footnotes).
>>
>> I am somewhat aghast at my own temerity in so-doing, and will not be
>> offended in the slightest should anyone decide to hit the revert
>> button. The new introductory paragraph is entirely my invention and
>> could and should be improved by others more knowledgeable than I.
>>
>> Regards to all,
>>
>> D.
>>
>> ***
>> Dear [NamedPersonAtOrganisationX],
>>
>> As you know, progress in networked computing currently offers
>> unparalleled opportunities for progress in many areas through the use
>> of textmining algorithms on the existing scholarly literature.
>> [[Required: 1 sentence on potential benefit for humanity. . . [Such
>> techniques could [???speed drug discovery, save scholarly time. . .
>> thus saving lives and generating economic benefits . . . add here] ]]
>> We are writing to several major scholarly publishers to ascertain
>> their current practice in this domain, and plan to collate the replies
>> we receive as part of our submission to the Hargreaves enquiry.
>>
>> We assert that subscribers [1] have a fundamental right to use
>> machines [2] to extract facts [3] from the entire current scholarly
>> literature [4] in all forms [5] without limitation [6] and publish the
>> output as CC0 [7]. This right extends to creating CC0 indexes [8] and
>> summaries [9]. Publishers have a responsibility to make this process
>> simple and reliable for all subscribers [10].
>>
>> We would appreciate a clear statement of your support for this
>> important scholarly principle, and for specific details of how
>> [OrganisationName] is furthering scientific progress in this
>> endeavour.
>>
>> You are also cordially invited to join in the discussion of these
>> issues on the mailing lists and blogs of the okfn. [[provide URLs
>> here]]
>>
>> Thank-you for your response.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>> [PMR on behalf of . . . ?]
>>
>> Notes:
>> 1. A subscription to a paper artefact allows the reader to extract
>> facts, create indexes and makes summaries without requiring
>> permission. We are asking for this right for legitimate subscribers to
>> electronic journals and other scholarly artifacts.
>> 2. Subject to best network practice in the prevention of server
>> overload by intensive automated requests, i.e. in conformance to any
>> reasonable API service limit.
>> 3. Facts are not copyright.
>> 4. Scholars should be able to extract information as soon as it
>> appears and to delve backwards as far as they wish. They should not be
>> dependent on publishers providing dumps, though this may be a useful
>> additional option.
>> 5. Scholarship expresses facts [at least] as text, numbers, tables,
>> diagrams, images, spoken discourse and video. Machines can reliably
>> extract facts from all of these
>> 6. Limitations on volume are unacceptable, just as they are for human
>> extracters.
>> 7. CC0 (Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication) means that the
>> information can be freely used with no restrictions (See
>> http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).
>> 8. There is a traditional right to index the literature. Many indexes
>> are factual, others involve judgment/classification which can now be
>> provided by machines.
>> 9. There is a traditional right to create summaries of works and publish them.
>> 10. No publisher should install robots to block legitimate use by
>> subscribers. No publisher should insert clauses in contracts which
>> militate against the subscribers' rights. No publisher should require
>> individuals to ask for permissions or justify their actions.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Douglas Carnall
>> dougie.carnall at gmail.com
>>
>> http://cabinetbeezer.info
>>
>> Traduction vers l'anglais
>> Rédaction de textes en anglais
>> Coaching pour présentations en anglais
>>
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>
>
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