Re: [PSES] Standards copyright lawsuit

Doug Powell Mon, 07 Oct 2013 14:45:47 -0700

Cortland

I am not certain you speed limit example explains the point you are trying to make.

Here in Colorado we have the Colorado Revised Statutes, or CRS. In these laws are all the requirements for citizens to follow so they are in compliance with the law. In practice posted speed limits are akin to the warning labels we put on products like: Danger High Voltage or Speed Limit 65.

In my state we can go to the government website and read any portion of the CRS for free. Same with the US Code of Federal Regulations. Now, if this were available only by paid subscription, then your point would be made. Of course, how many citizens actually read the law in its entirety? I suspect it is less than even 1%. Hence the need for posted cautionary and warning statements.

Doug

From: Cortland Richmond

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2013 12:32 PM

To: EMC-PSTC@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG

Reply To: k...@earthlink.net

Subject: Re: [PSES] Standards copyright lawsuit

The problem is, of course, that by incorporating copyrighted documents into the Code of Federal Regulations "by reference," various agencies render invisible laws we are all required to obey -- unless we go to their reading rooms (I think) to find out.

In practice? We on this list work or have worked for firms who could afford to buy copies of their own. But imagine one day finding that one has been convicted in absentia of speeding through a town without speed limit signs, limits available only by subscription.

Cortland Richmond

On 10/7/2013 1135, Peter Tarver wrote:

There is occasionally much haranguing regarding how "standards should be free."

The NFPA has joined ASHRAE and ASTM to claim otherwise.

Regards,

Peter L. Tarver

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