International Journal of Digital Library Services (IJODLS)
Jan-March 2012, Volume-2, Issue-1, ISSN:2250-1142
FAIR USE VS COPYRIGHT NON-COMPLIANCE AMONG THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY IN UNIVERSITIES OF DEVELOPING NATIONS
DR. SABUJ KUMAR CHAUDHURI
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the paper is to assess whether the copyrighted resources in the universities are being used following fair use principle or not and if there is any copyright management policy in the universities to manage the access to those resources .Quantitative data regarding the use of resources in the library collected through online (using survey monkey web platform) and offline were computed through statistical software (MINITAB version 13).Copyright Resources are not used complying fair use principles in the universities of West Bengal and there is no copyright management policy in any university of West Bengal. Considering similar economic conditions, the findings are equally applicable in other developing nations. Study was conducted among the universities of West Bengal. However result of the study is applicable to universities in all developing nations. This study can inform the entire academic community regarding fair use and can make university or appropriate authority feel the need to design and develop balanced and well-defined copyright management policy for the universities. There is close relation in between fair use and economic condition of that country. The unique context of fair use of copyrighted resources in the universities of West Bengal can add to the body of literature related with intellectual property rights in the universities and form the basis, for further comprehensive study.
