i V m e d e r 1S4e WALTER J. MURPHY, EDITOR
The Royal Society Adopts Photocopying Code (August 13, 1949, page 289) reports on a recent N action . taken by the Royal Society in connection with photocopying services that will be of intereat to all engaged atwe
in r e & activities. The statement of policy reads: For kme time scientists have discussed the problems, created by the CopyrightAct, which arise when they wish to obtain reproductions of excerpts from scientific and technical periodical pubLicatiom In the normal c o w of their work, scientiste occeaionally reqnire for frequent reference copies of particular papera appearing in scientific periodicals which are not readily available to them. I t is aseumed that they take all reasonable steps to 84 cure the original journala or sepamtes of papera they require, either from the author or the publisher, but it is remgnized that many requirementscannot be met from t h w BOUICB~. We have, therefore. agreed to make the fdlowing dsclnfation to ensure that eientists have no undue difficulties in obtaining copies from 1ibrariea and other orgmkationa supplying information. Thir dedaration does not apply to boob and other non-periodic or non-serial publications. We will regard it as fair dealing for the purpose of private study or reaearch when a non-profit &g organieation, such as a library, archives office, museum or information service, owning or handling scientific or technical periodicals published by us makes and delivers a sin& reproduction of a part of an iseue thereof to a person or hie agent representing in writing that he d& such repduction and that be requim it solely for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, and that he undertakes not to sei1 or reproduce for publication the copy supplied, provided: 1. The recipient of the copy is given notin, that be is Uable for infringement of copyright by mieuae of the copy, and that it is illegal to use the copy for any further reproduction. 2. The organization making and furnishing the copy does 80 without pmfit to itnelf. 3. %per acknowledgment is given to the publication from whicb the copy is made. 4. Not more than one copy of any one excerpt sbdl be furnished to any one person. The exemption from liability of the library, archives offioe. m w u m or information service berein provided ahdl extend to every officer, agent or employee of sclcb organization in the making and delivery of such reproduction when acting within the scope of his authority of employment. This exemption for the organization iheelf carries with it a responaiiility to sea that employees caution thosa receiving copies against the misuse of material reproduced. We m r v e the right to take action against any pereon or organization copying or misusing for any puurpose whatever the wbole or part of a work published by us without abiding by the couditions laid down herein unleas the person or organization.ha8 our special permiasion in respect of the item to hp ropied. We m r v e the right to withdraw this declaration. The policy spelled out by tbe Royal Society with regard to
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copying from ita journals parallels in many regpecte the lnngestablished position of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY on this problem. The report in Nature states clesrly that it is not the intention of the declaration to foster the substitution of copying for the purchase of journals, and recognizes that publishers of journals make a valuable contribution to the advancement of science hy the dissemination of new knowledge and that their interest must be safeguarded. Attention is also directed to the usual availability of back numbers of journals and separates of papers. It would seem appropriate to mention the AMERICAN CEEMICALSOCIETYPhotocopying Service in discussing the problem of making more readily available to men of science for the purpose of private study copies of papera in journals that are not easily accessible by purchase or loan. This service, inaugurated on January 1, 1946, under the direction of Executive Secretary Alden H. Emery, provides for the purchase of coupons by individual members and corporation members. Coupons a t 60 cents each may be purchased singly or in bonks of 10 from the Executive Secretary on a cash-withorder basis. One coupon may be exchanged for the microfilm of any article in a single volume of a periodical without regard to length. Rooks and aerial publications will be microfilmed a t a cost of one coupon for each 50 pages or fraction thereof. Photoprints usually will be supplied in a continuous untrimmed strip, slightly smaller than the originsl, by the exchange of one coupon for each 5 pages or fraction thereof from any single volume. Orders for coupons must originate with individual L.C.S. members or A.C.S. corporation members. However, a member may designate a h, library, or institution 88 his mailing address for delivery of photostats or mimoflm. Mutilated or unused couwns can be returned to the A.C.S. Washineton office for reiund. The couwn semes 88 the order blank. When filled out to show ref&nce for material to be copied, desired form, and shipping instructions, it should be Bent to Riblioflm Service. U. S. Department of Agriculture Library, Waahingbn 25, 1). C. When orders are so placed with A.C.S. coupons, Riblioflm Service will obtain for reproduction any periodical article available anywhere in the United States. The extent of the aid rendered chemints and chemical engineers by the A.C.S. Photocopying Service is attested by the use of some 50,000 coupons in the first 10 months of this year. The declaration of the Royal Society to which more than 70 organizations have subecribed (the full list can be obtained from the Royal Society), dong with the adoption by other sneietiea in the United States of services similar to that performed by the A.C.S. Photocopying Service, will twist materially in helping scientists and technologists obtain ready access to the scientific literature of the world for reference purposes.
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