Professional ethics, copyright legislation and the case for collective copyright disobedience in libraries

Article


Pryor-Darnell, Teghan Alexis, Andersen, Nikki and Rowling, Samara. 2019. "Professional ethics, copyright legislation and the case for collective copyright disobedience in libraries." Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association. 68 (2), pp. 146-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2019.1608496
Article Title

Professional ethics, copyright legislation and the case for collective copyright disobedience in libraries

ERA Journal ID10637
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPryor-Darnell, Teghan Alexis (Author), Andersen, Nikki (Author) and Rowling, Samara (Author)
Journal TitleJournal of the Australian Library and Information Association
Journal Citation68 (2), pp. 146-163
Number of Pages18
Year2019
PublisherRoutledge
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN2475-0158
2475-0166
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2019.1608496
Web Address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24750158.2019.1608496
Abstract

Australian library and information science (LIS) professionals face conflicting legal and ethical obligations in relation to copyright. As law-abiding citizens, they have a legal duty to adhere to the Australian Copyright Act 1968. However, as LIS professionals, they are expected to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and access of information as outlined by the code of conducts of professional associations such as the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the American Library Association (ALA). This article explores the paradoxical relationship between copyright compliance and LIS’s professional ethics. A comparison between the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and core LIS values reveals that legislative guidelines contradict the aims and principles of the LIS profession. Consequently, a case can be made for collective copyright disobedience within the LIS profession. Collective acts of copyright disobedience such as online piracy and the Freedom of Access to Information and Resources (FAIR)’s Cooking for Copyright campaign have influenced major copyright reforms and the advent of new scholarly communication models. Based on these results, it can be argued that collective copyright disobedience by LIS professionals is not only justified, but necessary to fulfilling professional and ethical responsibilities.

Keywordslibrary, freedom, professional ethics, copyright, collective disobedience
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020480603. Intellectual property law
461006. Library studies
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q5650/professional-ethics-copyright-legislation-and-the-case-for-collective-copyright-disobedience-in-libraries

Download files


Accepted Version
Manuscript-10419.pdf
File access level: Anyone

  • 353
    total views
  • 394
    total downloads
  • 10
    views this month
  • 12
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Communication Across Cultures
Chang, Heejin, Windeatt, Scott, Stockwell, Esther, Andersen, Nikki and Stagg, Adrian. 2024. Communication Across Cultures . Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Open Publishing Guide for Authors
Andersen, Nikki, King, Deborah, Stagg, Adrian and Bell, Emilia. 2023. Open Publishing Guide for Authors . Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Open Publishing Guide for Authors
Andersen, Nikki, King, Deborah, Stagg, Adrian and Bell, Emilia. 2023. Open Publishing Guide for Authors . Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
UniSQ Library Stories of 2022
Bell, Emilia C., McGregor, Rowena, Andersen, Nikki, Piper, Steph, Derrington, Kate, Bella, Tahnya, Jeffers, Marjorie, Sherwin, Leonie, Kelly, Tricia, Bremner, Margaret, Eacersall, Douglas, Stagg, Adrian, Ingram, Ben, Page, Teaki, Heuser, Ryan, Fahey, Kacie, Waters, Carlie, Fisher, Michelle, Firman, Elizabeth, ..., Salisbury, Fiona. Bell, Emilia and Randall, Rebecca (ed.) 2022. UniSQ Library Stories of 2022. Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Enhancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) in Open Educational Resources (OER)
Andersen, Nikki. 2022. Enhancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) in Open Educational Resources (OER). Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Open Textbook Publishing Programs at Australian Universities: Results from a National Survey
Rowling, Samara. 2022. "Open Textbook Publishing Programs at Australian Universities: Results from a National Survey." 2022 CAUL Enabling a Modern Curriculum Conference. Online
USQ Library stories of 2020
Andersen, Nikki, Bremner, Margaret, Derrington, Kate, Eacersall, Douglas, Gunton, Lyndelle, Howarth, Debi, Howlett, Alisa, Jeffers, Marjorie, Pearse, Tahnee, Pickstone, Leigh, Piper, Stephanie, Sahay, Akshay, Sherwin, Leonie, Stagg, Adrian, Thangavelu, Eddie, Thorpe, Clare and Tweedale, Robyn. Gunton, Lyndelle (ed.) 2021. USQ Library stories of 2020. Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Counter memorials and counter monuments in Australia's commemorative landscape: A systematic literature review
Baguley, Margaret, Kerby, Martin and Andersen, Nikki. 2021. "Counter memorials and counter monuments in Australia's commemorative landscape: A systematic literature review." Historical Encounters. 8 (3), pp. 93-120. https://doi.org/10.52289/hej8.308
Deviating with diversity, innovating with inclusion: a call for radical activism in libraries
Andersen, Nikki. 2019. "Deviating with diversity, innovating with inclusion: a call for radical activism in libraries." ALIA New Librarians' Symposium 9. Adelaide, South Australia 05 - 07 Jul 2019 Deakin, ACT, Australia.
Inclusion in action
Andersen, Nikki. 2020. "Inclusion in action." CRIG Seminar 2020: Access, Equity and Inclusion. Bundoora, Australia 12 Nov 2020 Bundoora, Vic, Australia.
Social Science Research: Principles, Methods and Practices
Bhattacherjee, Anol, Toleman, Mark, Rowling, Samara, Frederiks, Anita and Andersen, Nikki. Rowling, Samara (ed.) 2019. Social Science Research: Principles, Methods and Practices. Australia. University of Southern Queensland.