University of Texas-Austin has purchased annual licenses from the Copyright Clearance Center.

By Bob Neubauer

Having seen the fate of schools like Georgia State University, which was sued by publishers earlier this year for violating copyright laws, the University of Texas-Austin recently decided to purchase annual licenses from the Copyright Clearance Center. The CCC offers licenses and permissions to publishers’ content and collects their royalties.

“The university wanted to make sure that we’re following all the guidelines and making sure that the publishers are getting the restitution that they deserve,” explains Steve Meadows, Copy Center manager.

The in-plant has been securing copyright releases for many years for the course packets it produces. Richard Beto, director of Document Services, believes it was because of the diligent work of Copy Center Supervisor Irene Castillo-Alonzo, who is responsible for securing copyright permissions, that the library included the in-plant in discussions to purchase annual licenses. As a result, he says, the in-plant now plays a more integral role at the university.

“Now we’ll be working hand in hand with the Public Affairs Office, Legal and the library system, which, before, we didn’t,” remarks Meadows. “It interlocks us better…with the academic side.”

As a result of the annual licenses, students will see tremendous savings in their course packet costs, Castillo-Alonzo says. Gone will be the royalty fees that publishers like Harvard University charge for each case that appears in a course packet. She cites one packet that costs a whopping $165; $117.50 of that is royalty fees.

“Come the spring, they’re only going to be paying for the copying and the binding,” she says.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.

UT-Austin Inks Copyright Deal with CCC