[Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the BlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

Fri Feb 13 17:14:38 UTC 2009

It is likely a copyright issue.  Such programs as NLS, RFB&D, and
Bookshare are exempt from copyright law because their material is not
available to the general public.  The Kindle is available to the general
public.  This is where in lies the rub, and the NFB mmust be aware of
this.  This is why this kind of suit will never get to court.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Levy
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 7:49 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the
BlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

I'm with you 100% on this one, Ray.  Blind folks must have the same
access to books and other printed documents as their sighted peers.
It's the law. 
Apparently, thede self-righteous nit-wits have never heard of the
Americans With Disabilities Act.  I hope the NFB sues them out of
existence.

Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Foret jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the
BlindResponds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2

>I can't help but wonder.  Has the Author's guild had their heads buried

>in  the sand since 1934 or earlier?  Could they honestly be so stupid 
>as to  not  have ever been aware of public law 89-522?  Were they 
>un-aware that, for  years, we, the blind, have been using talking books

>beginning in 1934 with  vinyl phonograph records and with cassettes 
>beginning at least in 1967 or  so?  Wince comes this crazy outlandish 
>statement that reading books  allowed  is a violation of copy right?  
>Are they really and consciously against the  blind; or, perhaps just 
>un-aware?  Well, what ever the case may happen to  be, perhaps they 
>will awaken to their senses now that we have responded in  this 
>fashion.  If not, then what?  Do we sue the entire author's guild;  or,

>just target those individuals directly responsible for making that  
>statement?  Something just strikes me all wrong about this sudden  
>declaration upon the part of the author's guild; I mean really, that 
>they  should now just come right strait out and say that reading books 
>allowed  is  a violation of copy right.  Smacks of prudential 
>arrogance, in my humble  opinion!!!  I also can't help but wonder.  How

>would they feel if one of  their members went blind and did not want to

>or could not (for what ever
> reason) learn Braille?  Ah, then what?  Mind you, I don't wish that on

>any  of their members; still and all, part of me can't help but ask the

>question.
> What next if they resist?  Well, no doubt we'll be taking further 
>action I  dare speculate.  I guess it gets harder "at the top of the 
>stairs"; so to  speak.  Most of me would, as I say, prefer to believe 
>that this is a case  of  mere ignorance on their parts; but, somehow, I

>just cannot bring myself to  that conclusion.  in the end, I'm coming 
>down on the side that it's not  accidental or ignorance; rather, it's a

>deliberate attack upon all the  blind; and, for that matter, the sited 
>illiterate of this country.  I'd  rather peace, but, if it's war they 
>want, damn it, let's go to war!!!!!
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
>
> "Old friend, what are you looking for?  After those many years abroad 
> you come With images you tended Under foreign skies Far away from your

> own land"
> George Seferis
>
> Phone or Fax::
> +1 (985) 360-3375
> e-mail:
> rforetjratcomcastdotnet
> Skype Name:
> barefootedray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
> <JFreeh at nfb.org>
> To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:38 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to 
> Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
> National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild Statement 
> on the Amazon Kindle 2
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of 
> the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United 
> States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild 
> advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting 
> e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which 
> incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that 
> the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright 
> infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted 
> permission for the book to be read aloud.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies 
> that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, 
> including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial 
> e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors 
> Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, 
> its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the 
> Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that 
> having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or 
> vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use 
> readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
> available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, 
> no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild says

> that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other readers have

> the right for books to be presented to us in the format that is most 
> useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as long as we use

> readers, either human or machine, for private rather than public 
> listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private is the same 
> whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud in private is

> never an infringement of copyright.
>
> "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including 
> text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle 
> 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself 
> cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls to

> download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and therefore 
> inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this situation as

> soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device that truly can

> be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing so, Amazon will 
> make it possible for blind people to purchase a new book and begin 
> reading it immediately, just as sighted people do."
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is

> the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
> people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives 
> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
> encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force 
> in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In 
> January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind 
> Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
> United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
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