[Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
John Riehl
realman02 at comcast.net
Fri Feb 13 21:28:39 UTC 2009
It would be helpful if we could actually see what the authors' guild said --
the actual language they used, rather than a paraphrase of what they said.
I'd appreciate it if this could be sent out to the list. In what context was
this statement made? Over the phone? In an officially-sanctioned document?
In proposed legislation?
Please provide the context and the actual wording of the statement from the
authors' Guild. Thanks.
John Riehl
-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Evelyn Weckerly
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 10:12 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] [nfb-talk] National Federation of the Blind
Responds to Authors Guild Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2
Hi,
Even if one of their members went blind and did learn braille, doing without
sound recording or reading aloud would be crippling because so much is
available that way. I suspect that these people are paranoied about
copyright. Once a long time ago I had aobook brailled for me that I
absolutely had to have for my teaching American literature. Ginn, I think
then owned by Xerox,allowed only one braille copy to be made. I had the
teacher's manual done as well. I think the whole thing was something like 40
volumes.Obviously, that response was filled with both ignorance and
copyright paranoia, and I'm talking about something that was done 25-30
years ago!
Evelyn
At 09:55 AM 2/13/2009, you wrote:
>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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