News on Gutenberg/Librivox

Post by **hugh** » January 14th, 2006, 11:01 am

Hi all I had a long talk with Greg Newby, CEO of Project Gutenberg, and Jim Tiinsley (?) their main tech guy.

Some notes:

1. gutenberg is very happy w librivox and we need to work out the mechanism to get our files either linked, or uploaded to thier system. Normally gutenberg's system does not link, but the value of adding our files to their servers is questionable, and under discussion.

2. if we have questions about a certaiin copyright, we can put the book thru their system, which has a 1-2 week turn-around

3. we can use their process for freeing a "copyrighted" work - in the case that the author wishes it freed to librivox (this may require amending the disclaimer to, this LV recording is copyrighted by LV and author? need to check specifics)

4. in the case of US PD status, but non-PD elsewhere, here was gutenberg's advice:
a) we may host the files in the US and make them available on the net
b) it would be wise not to include names and location of readers in the case that they are not located in the US
c) readers should be aware of a) and b) and decide based on this whether they wish to proceed.

5. gutenberg will likely give us advice, support and help in the case of legal troubles. this is not a "contract" but just a friendly offer

6. gutenberg is structured much like LV - almost no money, runs almost entirely volunteer (iincluding Greg, their CEO); very part-time paid staff only to process paperwork occasionally.

7. however, for legal liability purposes, gutenberg suggests LV obtaiin legal status. I am working on this in the coming weeks.

any questions? comments?

kayray · Post by **kayray** » January 14th, 2006, 11:20 am

You have my undying gratitude for handling this aspect of librivox. I'd rather catalog a hundred books by hand than deal with questions of legality.

It will be _extremely_ cool if someday people looking on gutenberg for Connecticut Yankee, for instance, will find a link to Steve's wonderful reading!

librivox and gutenberg -- together we will rule the world (or better -- make it a far richer place for all of humanity!)

k

Post by **hugh** » January 14th, 2006, 11:24 am

as I told Greg and Jim, LibriVox was essentially invented in order to provide gutenberg with audio - i was so surprised and disappointed to learn how little human-read stuff they actually had. the computer stuff is downright creepy!

Hugh.

RobertG · Post by **RobertG** » January 14th, 2006, 11:50 am

kayray wrote:I'd rather catalog a hundred books by hand than deal with questions of legality.

If I go to prison for reading something for LibriVox, may I do Crime and Punishment as a solo project while cooling my heels?

Stephan · Post by **Stephan** » January 14th, 2006, 12:06 pm

Hugh! What a perspective! Its so cool that you manage stuff so "high up there", but which also have got to be done, in order for librivox to go big. So cool that you wanna take it there! You?re da maaaan! "Legal status." Hell.

if we have questions about a certain copyright, we can put the book thru their system, which has a 1-2 week turn-around

Certainly we may not flood them with requests. But what do they do in "their system". They research the books legal status? They write to publishers and authors relatives?

4. in the case of US PD status, but non-PD elsewhere, here was gutenberg's advice:

Ok, thats the Peterpan case.
But isn?t it more likely to have cases with legality all over the world but not in the US? What do we do with them? Sorry if thats a repeat - but what was the answer again?
-------
Ey robert, while you?re in prison you could be reading the one or other non-public domain work for us, since you?re already there.

LibraryLady · Post by **LibraryLady** » January 14th, 2006, 1:17 pm

kayray wrote:You have my undying gratitude for handling this aspect of librivox. I'd rather catalog a hundred books by hand than deal with questions of legality.

Ditto on that, Kara. I went through the miserable (for me) process of getting 501c3 (non profit organization) status for a little project I was involved with in college and I was not the person for the job!

Great work, Hugh, this is all very exciting. Links from Gutenberg to Librivox will probably skyrocket our downloads and volunteers and increase the "importance" of Librivox in many peoples' eyes.

RobertG · Post by **RobertG** » January 14th, 2006, 1:37 pm

Stephan wrote:Ey robert, while you?re in prison you could be reading the one or other non-public domain work for us, since you?re already there.

Great idea! Say... I've always wanted to read the Chronicles of Narnia out loud. Would that get me transferred to a British prison?

kri · Post by **kri** » January 14th, 2006, 1:40 pm

Great idea! Say... I've always wanted to read the Chronicles of Narnia out loud. Would that get me transferred to a British prison?

Wouldn't they just charge you a fine? Make sure you're positive they'd send you to prison before you get your mind set on this, now.

Post by **hugh** » January 14th, 2006, 1:41 pm

But isn?t it more likely to have cases with legality all over the world but not in the US? What do we do with them? Sorry if thats a repeat - but what was the answer again?

This is tricky. I think the strict legal answer would be, if we can find server space in a non-US country, and put the files there, it would be technically legal. But I suspect we would not be looked on very kindly by legal-types if we started doing this, and it might make our lives difficult. However, when we get our status sorted, it will be one of the issues I look at. But I would not like for KAGB to be deprived of the great joys of uploading to archive.org - that in itself is one reason to stay US-only for hosting. (heh heh).

RobertG · Post by **RobertG** » January 14th, 2006, 1:44 pm

kri wrote:Make sure you're positive they'd send you to prison before you get your mind set on this, now.

Well... putting me in prison is one thing. Keeping me there is an entirely different matter! My other passion is climbing, you know!

Perhaps I will write a short piece about an outlaw LibriVox reader. But it will be strictly fictional!!

RobertG · Post by **RobertG** » January 14th, 2006, 1:46 pm

hugh wrote:But I suspect we would not be looked on very kindly by legal-types...

How about we volunteer to record some law tomes? It would keep them distracted and our other listeners would find it a great aid for insomniac nights!

alexfoster · Post by **alexfoster** » January 14th, 2006, 1:46 pm

b) it would be wise not to include names and location of readers in the case that they are not located in the US

Hmmm -- that's what you've suggested before re Styles. But I want the glory...

Post by **hugh** » January 14th, 2006, 1:52 pm

if they lock you up you will be forever known as "Alex, Martyr of the Public Domain" ... we shall sing your praises in mp3 for generations to come...

Stephan · Post by **Stephan** » January 14th, 2006, 2:51 pm

Perhaps I will write a short piece about an outlaw LibriVox reader. But it will be strictly fictional!!

Ow yeah! Hiro Protagonist always in hot pursuit by black-tied agents from the evil publisher-empire ruling the world. He tries to record whenever he can, wherever he can (with his portable shallenberg zero-noise device). Fleeing, finding cover in a zoo's chimpansee cage. Finally some rest to record the next chapter!
The piece later ends with him recording "End of Chapter. End of.." - then he dies. But before the blackties can do anything, the thing is already fileshared all over the net. They lost and they know it.

kri · Post by **kri** » January 14th, 2006, 2:52 pm

Ow yeah! Hiro Protagonist always in hot pursuit by black-tied agents from the evil publisher-empire ruling the world. He tries to record whenever he can, wherever he can (with his portable zero-noise device studio). Fleeing, finding cover in a zoo's chimpansee cage. Finally some rest to record the next chapter!
The piece later ends with him recording "End of Chapter. End of.." - then he dies. But before the blackties can do anything, the thing is already fileshared all over the net. They lost and they know it.

It's a sure hit!!