guidelines are a reasonable interpretation of the proviso of section 108(g) (2) in the most common situations to which they apply today.
The text of the guidelines follows:
Photocopying—Interlibrary Arrangements
Introduction
Subsection 108(g) (2) of the bill deals, among other things, with limits on interlibrary arrangements for photocopying. It prohibits systematic photocopying of copyrighted materials but permits interlibrary arrangements ‘‘that do not have, as their purpose or effect, that the library or archives receiving such copies or phonorecords for distribution does so in such aggregate quantities as to substitute for a subscription to or purchase of such work.’’
The National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works offered its good offices to the House and Senate subcommittees in bringing the interested parties together to see if agreement could be reached on what a realistic definition would be of ‘‘such aggregate quantities.’’ The Commission consulted with the parties and suggested the interpretation which follows, on which there has been substantial agreement by the principal library, publisher, and author organizations. The Commission considers the guidelines which follow to be a workable and fair interpretation of the intent of the proviso portion of subsection 108 (g) (2).
These guidelines are intended to provide guidance in the application nof section 108 to the most frequently encountered interlibrary case: a library's obtaining from another library, in lieu of interlibrary loan, copies of articles from relatively recent issues of periodicals-those published within five years prior to the date of the request. The guidelines do not specify what aggregate quantity of copies of an article or articles published in a periodical, the issue date of which is more than five years prior to the date when the request for the copy thereof is made, constitutes a substitute for a subscription to such periodical. The meaning of the proviso to subsection 108(g) (2) in such case is left to future interpretation.
The point has been made that the present practice on interlibrary loans and use of photocopies in lieu of loans may be supplemented or even largely replaced by a system in which one or more agences or institutions, public or private, exist for the specific purpose of providing a central source for photocopies. Of course, these guidelines would not apply to such a situation.
Guidelines for the Proviso of Subsection 108 (g) (2)
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As used in the proviso of subsection 108(g) (2), the words ‘‘…such aggregate quantities as to substitute for a subscription to or purchase of such work’’ shall mean:
(a) with respect to any given periodical (as opposed to any given issue of a periodical), filled requests of a library or archives (a ‘‘requesting entity’’) within any calendar year for a total of six or more copies of an article or articles published in such periodical within five years prior to the date of the request. These
