What I Want: Next Steps Post-Censorship

As described in these documents [ http://www.ils.unc.edu/gbnewby/DVD/index.html ], I was censored by UNC from using some source code to play DVDs on Wednesday, April 12, 2000.

I am scheduled to teach the same course [ http://ils.unc.edu/inls183/home.shtml ] during fall semester, 2000. Here is what I would like to see happen in order for me to teach my next section of the class:

  1. For UNC's Legal Counsel office to tell me that I can use any software I would like, and talk about any topic I would like, for my class. The only exceptions would be software (or software uses) that has been found illegal in a court with NC jurisdiction, or topics that have been found illegal in a court with NC jurisdiction.
  2. For my academic unit, SILS [ http://www.ils.unc.edu/ ], to tell me that I can use any software I would like, and talk about any topic I would like, for my class with the exceptions mentioned above.
  3. For UNC to develop a specific policy addressing the impact of the DMCA on faculty, students and staff. This must include clear interpretation of "fair use," academic freedom and copyright. UNC then needs to stand by faculty who adhere to this policy.

    My suggestions are that this policy:

There are any number of relevant court findings and statements from organizations to support a strong stance on fair use of copyrighted materials in academic settings. Some contemporary examples include:

First version: April 23, 2000


Copyright (c) 2000 Gregory B. Newby. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License [ http://www.ils.unc.edu/gbnewby/DVD/COPYING-FDL.txt ], Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.