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Re: Failure to Credit Fees



On Wed, 2 Feb 2000, Roy Webb wrote:

        <snip>

> There was nothing to stop the media from selling
> them or re-using them, or even worse, if one of the images is used
> in a manner so as to offend an alumni, that alum. could then turn
> around and sue the University.  Under the conditions the library has
> established, i.e. if they sign our forms, we are as protected from
> that as anyone can be, since our form includes an indemnification
> clause.  This way we have no protection.  She called the VP back,
> he said do it anyway, she told me do it anyway.  In the complete
> and utter absence of any word to the contrary, I made a CD of low-
> rez scans; then got a call from the PR head, who said that was not
> acceptable, and as much as threatened me with my job if I didn't
> do exactly what she said.  So I did, after documenting the whole
> incident in a memo to the library director, and under strenuous
> protest.  In effect, the PR department hijacked our project to do a
> warm fuzzy for the local press.

A sordid story, indeed.  At any point in this whole affair did any of the
high muckety-mucks consult with your legal staff, or did they just take it
upon themselves to interpret the law and "acceptable risk"?  If something
does come of this, of a legal nature, it will be the university attorneys
who will have to answer in court and will be looking for documents with
which to defend the institution.  I hope, for your sake, that the memo you
wrote to your director will protect you (do you have witnesses to the fact
that you wrote this memo, so it doesn't get "mislaid" or officially
forgotten by those who really do remember?).  Otherwise, when the spit
hits the spam, those higher-ups are not going to fall on their swords --
they'll look for someone to push onto the sword in their place.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

James Stimpert                       E-mail:    James.Stimpert@jhu.edu
Archives (Arts and Sciences)
MSE Library
Johns Hopkins University             Voice:     (410) 516-8323
3400 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD  21218                 Fax:       (410) 516-7202

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