ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION - The Center for Intellectual Property at the
University of Maryland University College is again hosting its annual asynchronous
online workshop series for faculty, university counsel, librarians, instructional design,
and information professionals. Each two-week workshop will provide participants
with an in-depth understanding of core intellectual property issues facing higher
education. The series includes:
- Implementing the TEACH Act, Oct 22-Nov 5, 2003. Moderator-Kenneth Crews,
Virtual Intellectual Property Scholar, CIP-UMUC, Associate Dean and
Director, Copyright Management Center, Indiana University-Purdue University
Indianapolis
- Balancing Acts: Fair Use and Digital Content, Nov 10-Nov 21, 2003.Moderator-
Georgia Harper, Manager, Intellectual Property Section of The University of Texas
System Office of General Counsel
- Preventing Plagiarism Toolbox, Feb 10-Feb 28, 2004. Moderator-Kimberly Kelley,
Associate Provost and Executive Director, Center for Intellectual Property and
Copyright in the Digital Environment, University of Maryland University College
These online workshops include course readings, live chats, online discussions,
and daily responses and feedback from the workshop moderators. For complete
information go to: http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/cip/ipa

COPYRIGHT APATHY ON THE RISE - A new survey from the Pew Internet and
American Life Project shows that 67% of file sharers are unconcerned about
copyright issues, up from 61% in 2001. Among high-school and college students, the
number rises to around 80%. One researcher at the Pew project said she was
surprised that recent attention to legal issues of file sharing had not resulted in
lower rates of apathy, but a spokesman from the Recording Industry Association
of America (RIAA) discounted the survey's results, saying that it predated his
organization's announcement about prosecuting individual file sharers. He said
that other research has shown that the RIAAs recent actions will result in more
users paying attention to and caring about copyright issues. This week Senator
Norm Coleman (R-MN) began looking into the RIAAs actions, including the
subpoenas it has filed. Coleman said he is concerned about situations in which
family members or roommates have been caught up in the RIAAs hunt for
copyright violators. See: http://chronicle.com/daily/2003/08/2003080101t.htm
(Chronicle of Higher Education, 1 Aug 03 - Edupage, 1 Aug 03)