In thinking about Michael Sauers recent brilliant post on cataloging Creative Commons works, I’m considering setting up an iTunes instance on our Student network in MPOW. On that system, we could load…well, that’s the crux of this post. Long time readers of this blog know my stance on copyright, and that I keep up with the latest issues, especially vis a vis digital copyright. I could, at the very least, load CC licensed music on this system. But what else?
So, I ask you, blogosphere: What can I legally load on that iTunes instance? It would be openly shared, streamable to anyone connected to our student network…but, as anyone who has used iTunes knows, not downloadable. Can I load the majority of the library music collection on that machine? Why not? If it is legal for me as a private citizen to rip my purchased music to digital form (yes, I realize that not everyone thinks this is legal, but it is the current position held by most copyright thinkers), then why would it not be legal for “me” as a library? Once ripped, can it possibly be illegal for me to use functionality that iTunes has built into it?
Is anyone out there doing this? It would mean that every student could stream any of our music collection from any computer with iTunes as long as they were connected to our network…which would, of course, be any computer in the library (or their own computer).
Once more, oh blogosphere, I ask you: what’s wrong with this idea?
4 replies on “iTunes and Libraries question”
I had this conversation with the head of tech services, our copyright guru, a couple of months ago. It was more geared to what we could do with our reserves and not part of our collection.
My ethical stance on copyright is a bit liberal as I grew up on Napster. But, I believe that if the work is the library’s and it stays in the library, like our reserves would, then it should be allowed.
Obviously this negates some of the restrictions on our reserves: like only allowing one student to view the work for two hours at a time (I made that up but we have rules like that).
I see the power in using iTunes for much more than just music – think movie collections – think student created projects – think recently recorded radio shows from the campus radio station. It has a lot of potential if you’re willing to bend some of these nasty copyright rules.
As you said: anyone who has used iTunes knows, not downloadable. Not the complete truth, I’m sorry to say. Do a search on Lifehack for itunes stuff and you’re bound to find the right swiss army knife to get to the collection.
BUT – I’m still just as curious about this as you are.
Kyle: oh, there are a billion ways around the “not downloadable” part of iTunes. But as I see it, I’m only responsible for using a tool as it was meant to be used. If others are doing naughty things with it, it isn’t my problem…esp. if I don’t know it, or can’t tell it’s happening.
I see absolutely zero wrong with it, Jason, and I’ve wondered about doing the same thing here. Then again, I don’t work in reserves and am probably ignorant of some of the legal issues. Would you post updates if anything comes of it?
I *believe* this is illegal, but IANAL. What you can do as a private citizen for yourself is different from what you can do as an institution for multiple users. Note that I don’t agree with this, am just noting that I believe it to be the case.
That said, check out http://tametheweb.com/2006/10/10/ttw-mailbox-sharing-itunes-copyright/. I know the DOK Library in Delft, Holland, does this, too, in a really unique and fantastic way (see http://flickr.com/photos/shifted/2342416374/ and http://flickr.com/photos/shifted/2341586333/), but obviously American copyright law doesn’t apply to them.
On the flip side, and admittedly not nearly as popular as some of what you’d load, is http://www.redferret.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php. I’ll second the request to let us know if you pursue this.