Clashing Over Copyright

The information superhighway has reached a crossroads. Internet enthusiasts accustomed to near-limitless freedoms are growing worried about government and industry attempts to introduce commerce into cyberspace. Film studios, record companies and book publishers are demanding greater legal protections for copyright holders. But Clinton administration and congressional proposals to thwart copyright infringements have met resistance from academics and librarians concerned about longtime protections for “fair use” in scholarship and journalism. Telecommunications companies and on-line service providers, meanwhile, are wary of being held liable for copyright violations committed by their users.