Review of article “Cavalier or Careful?

How Users Approach the Rights Management Practices of

Archival Repositories”.

When we’re doing research, facing deadlines, and assisting clients, we’re sometimes under pressure to
get what we need when we see it. We don’t have time to go back and forth with copyright rules,
policies, procedures, and red tape. When it comes to transmitting digital information, it is the fastest,
quickest, easiest way to get what we need. It is usually the role of librarians to educate patrons on the
rules and policies surrounding copyright, and to inform them about what they can and can’t transmit on
the internet and through email without permission. Some patrons adhere to these rules, and some
don’t.

In Jean Dryden’s 2012 article “Cavalier or Careful? How Users Approach the Rights Management
Practices of Archival Repositories”, she examines the copying and sharing practices of seventeen
historians and genealogists who regularly used digital materials to complete projects. The participants
were interviewed and completed short surveys. Question 7 from the survey stood out.

“Some archival repositories include terms and conditions on whether, and how, you can use the
digitized holdings from their Web sites (e.g., you must seek the repository’s permission, or acknowledge
the repository in a certain way).
• Are you aware of this type of information? If so, what in particular have you noticed? Any particular
messages that you recall?
• What is your opinion of such information? How do you react to it?
• If the repository imposes conditions on further uses, to what extent do you comply with the
repository’s requirements? Why or why not?” (Dryden, p.205).

The responses to this and other questions were interesting to say the least. 11 of the interviewees said
that they had never seen any details about copyright holders and expiry dates (Dryden, p. 196). Some
participants said that even though they saw watermarks on the documents that they were using, they
found ways to get around having it appear on the document. One genealogist said that “people will do
whatever they have to do to remove the watermark” (p. 199). One respondent said “If someone wants
to take it, they’re usually going to figure out a way” (p.200).

One respondent was simply blunt about it.

“I question to what extent people who don’t know something about [copyright] would read it. It would
have to be clear and simple. I spend a lot of time wandering around individuals’ genealogy Web sites.
And occasionally you find someone who has taken the time to actually say something about copyright;
some of them have tutorials, some of them well written, basically saying “you really shouldn’t steal.” Of
course, stealing copyrighted material from genealogy Web sites is widely done” (p.201).

Using responses from interviewees, the article goes on to expose the abuses of copyright policy.
“Although some interviewees have been disappointed to encounter watermarks, they understand their
purpose; one person noted that it was better to have the material available with a watermark than not
to have it at all. As well, some participants are confident in their ability to remove watermarks if
necessary: as participant H17 said, “I don’t find that many to be difficult to manipulate,” and one
genealogist noted that people will do whatever they have to do to remove the watermark. In sum, the
reaction to watermarks ranges from living with them if using the item for personal or classroom use, to
searching for a clean copy elsewhere, to removing the watermark.” (p. 199).
Feel free to answer one or both of the following questions or to express your thoughts without being
confined to the questions.

Can libraries monitor copyright infringement? If so, what RMM (Rights Management Measures) could
be put into place to prevent the violations? Should researchers be required to sign a pledge?

Do you believe that all digital repositories used for educational purposes should be free and accessible?
If so, how would the library verify that the repositories are only being used for educational purposes and
not commercial purposes?

How can libraries educate patrons about intellectual property and copyright infringement?

What can libraries do to monitor whether or not copyright policies are being followed for digital
resources?

Do you believe that all digital materials for educational purposes should be shared?

Reference:

Dryden, Jean. (2012). “Cavalier of Careful? How Users Approach the Rights Management Practices of
Archival Repositories”. Journal of Archival Organization. 10 (3-4). 191-206.