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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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EPUB.PRO
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1996-01-04
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53 lines
AN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING PROPOSAL
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It is a sad fact that many, many excellent books are out of print and almost
impossible to obtain. A few examples are Arthur Koestler's books on the
philosopy of science, W.W. Sawyer's introductions to mathematics, and L.L.
Whyte's classic musings. The availability of these and a multitude of other
books depends on the whims of publishers and, in some cases, copyright
owners.
Project Gutenberg is in the process of electronically republishing on CD ROM
many classic whose copyrights have long since lapsed. However, what of all
the "modern" classics, those published earlier in this century? Will we have
to wait a 100 years to read them?
I propose a change to the copyright laws. Any book out of print for 10 years
should lapse into the Public Domain. Better yet, any print publication
receiving a copyright should release rights to electronic republication after
5 years to the Public Domain. This would help stop the loss of information
and knowledge that is costing us much of our heritage as books disappear from
the market.
There is a business opportunity here for some enterprising electronic
publisher (not me, I haven't the time or the funds). Research the copyright
status of out of print books. If they have lapsed into the Public Domain,
republish them on CD ROM. Are you listening Walnut Creek and Chestnut?
Imagine, for example, a military studies CD ROM containing everything from
Thucidides and Sun Tzu to T.E. Lawrence. Or a science fiction CD ROM ranging
from Wells and Verne to the "Golden Age" of SF in the '30's. Or, the complete
works of Balzac.
Just think. Winston Churchill's classic histories and journals will pass into
the Public Domain soon. Opportunity knocks.
The prices of CD ROM recorders have finally dipped below $1000 U.S. (*much*
less than the cost of printing equipment). The cost of a recordable blank CD
is about $12 (In mass production, the per unit cost of manufacturing CD
ROM's is under $2). This makes affordable an electronic republishing
operation on a shoestring basis. Small presses and hobby publishing houses,
where are you?
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Send suggestions and proposals to:
M\Cooper
3425 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Grantsville, MD 21536-9801
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E-mail: thegrendel@aol.com
or thegrendel@gcc.cc.md.us