Re: [ARSCLIST] MP3 bit rates and usage factors for Web pages

[Mwcpc6@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 12/1/2005 9:02:52 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
marie.oconnell@xxxxxxx writes:
My instinct has been to give
a very short excerpt of audio, with text, but to keep out the 'prized' part of
the audio that the person really wants.  If they want it badly enough, then
they will have to get in touch with the company, University and pay for it!
****************

I suppose it depends on the purpose of maintaining an archive; of preserving 
historical materials at all. If it is regarded as a valuable collection and 
potential revenue source, certainly access must be restricted. With present day 
technology, once it is out of the vault, it can be everywhere.

However if the purpose is to preserve and spread knowledge, then the 
propagation and free distribution of the material is serving the purpose.

Knowledge must be force fed to most people. That is why school attendance is 
required by law. Money to do this is generally provided by taxes and private 
grants. More and more institutions are putting their materials online as part 
of their fundamental mandate.

One danger in commercializing an archive is that people with special 
interests in a political or technical will be quite willing to pay a substantial 
amount for an excerpt to use in a documentary supporting their cause. If access to 
the original documents is restricted, there is no opportunity for the public 
to see the context of the excerpt or study associated materials.

Perhaps the best compromise is something like the relationship between the 
Prelinger Archive and Getty Images 
http://www.panix.com/~footage/prelarch.html

Of course this requires a certain culture of both generosity and honesty to 
work.

Mike Csontos