[gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?

[Stan Gowin]

Hi,

Sorry but I disagree with your position. The NLS is in a difficult position,
since they offer the service at no charge to those who qualify. Even
Bookshare has an annual fee, correct?

I think this is a non-issue and I believe that because there are several
players now available, including free ones from NLS, there is no reason to
insist NLS adopt a more open digital platform for their digital talking
books and periodicals.
 


Regards,
Stan
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Hoffman, Allen
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 6:33 PM
To: gui-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [gui-talk] any progress in NLS DTB limited access issues?

Anyone know if there is any movement to provide UAC for such products as FS
Reader for NLS digital talking books?  The concept that bookshare.org can
produce volumes of materials for various platform usage, with adequate if
not draconian IP protections, while the well funded NLS chooses to keep
things to non-mainstream platforms seems ridiculous.  If this doesn't change
soon I recommend folks start writing their Congressman about finding new
budget solutions to this problem.  It is all well and good to have a
benevolent NLS to provide leisure materials for folks, but insisting we
can't be trusted to keep our access terms is just a poor way to serve the
public as a government in my opinion.  I am finding that I read far more
from bookshare.org of late than NLS anyway, so it may just become something
irrelevant to me soon.  I just hate to see tax dollars spent without a more
direct connection between a perceived problem and reality.  Same goes for
the whole publishing industry's perceived problem with copying of materials
by people with disabilities.  If your book was so good that it gets copied
electronically, you probably have buyers anyway.  Besides, if the accessible
version is not for sale, they were not missing any revenues, and if someone
is copying materials for sale then the publisher was missing a market
opportunity of their own.
 
I personally think that NLS should have a audiobooks sales licensing side
for publishers to use as they see fit-e.g. NLS does the contract to get the
materials recorded, and if a publisher wants to sell this to the general
public, it should be allowed.  Gives publishers motivation to make things
easy to get NLS to record, and maybe there even is some revenue sharing,
beyond taxes, that could make the project more self supportive.
Anyhow, just wondering if it's time to send Congressmen letters, or if
progress is being made to improve NLS services for the modern world.
 
 
_______________________________________________
gui-talk mailing list
gui-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gui-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
gui-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/gui-talk_nfbnet.org/sgowin%40verizon.n
et