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Copyright

JISC Publishers' Association work on developing guidelines for copyright issues in the electronic environment / Charles Oppenheim [*]

The JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee), is part of the higher education funding councils of the UK. It is responsible for all aspects of the distribution of electronic information, and the implementation of IT, in UK Higher Education Institutions. The Publishers Association (PA) is the trade body for the UK publishing industry. JISC and PA have been meeting and exploring issues to do with the use of digital information in the UK higher education system for some years. A number of working parties to look at specific areas of interest were set up, including ones on standard contractual terms, on fair dealing in the digital environment, document supply services, and on charging for permission to digitise. As a result, a number of working papers have been issued in print and electronic form.

Much of the JISC/PA workingb parties' efforts is now finished. A description will be given of how the work came about, the major results of the work, the key features of the working papers, and likely future developments.

The JISC/PA work represents a role model for other countries, and demonstrates that the tensions between copyright owners and copyright users can, if the goodwill is there, be overcome.