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President of Hercules Incorporated on July 1, 1971 to accept the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology. I resigned from that position on December 1, 1972, on acceptance of my present appointment. Accompanying me today are Dr. Richard L. Kenyon, Director of the Public Affairs and Communication Division, Mr. Ben H. Weil, Chairman of the Society's Committee on Coyprights, and Dr. Stephen T. Quigley of the Department of Chemistry and Public Affairs of the American Chemical Society, and Arthur B. Hanson, General Counsel of the Society.

We appreciate being given this opportunity to comment on the certain features of the Copyright Revision Bill, S. 1361. The issues addressed by this legislation are both fundamental to the formulation of national science policy, and of vital significance with respect to the ability of our society to resolve many of the problems which confront it. These issues have been under discussion for some time now by the Committee on Copyrights of the Board of Directors and Council of the American Chemical Society, as well as by other similar scientific societies, and a general consensus on them has been under development. This consensus has been developed in the context that the protection of copyrighted material will "promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts", as specified in Article I. Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution of the United States. The viewpoint which we attempt to express is that of the chemical scientific and technological community, as represented by the American Chemical Society.

The American Chemical Society is incorporated by the Federal Congress as a non-profit, membership, scientific, educational society composed of chemists and chemical engineers, and is exempt from the payment of federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. The American Chemical Society consists of more than 107,000 such above described members. Its Federal Charter was granted by an Act of the Congress in Public Law No. 358, 75th Congress, Chapter 762, 1st Session, H.R. 7709, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 25, 1937, to become effective from the first day of January, 1938.

Section 2 of the Act is as follows:

"Sec. 2. That the objects of the incorporation shall be to encourage in the broadest and most liberal manner the advancement of chemistry in all its branches; the promotion of research in chemical science and industry; the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of chemists through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments; the increase and diffusion of chemical knowledge; and by its meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications, to promote scientific interests and inquiry, thereby fostering public welfare and education, aiding the development of our country's industries, and adding to the material prosperity and happiness of our people."

Its Federal Incorporation replaced a New York State Charter, which had been effective since November 9, 1877.

One of the principal objects of the Society, as set forth in its Charter, is the dissemination of chemical knowledge through its publications program. The budget for the Society for the year 1973 exceeds $36,000,000 of which more than $29,000,000 is devoted to its publications program.

The Society's publication program now includes twenty journals. largely scholarly journals that contains reports of original research from such fields as medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and agricultural and food chemistry, but also a weekly newsmagazine designed to keep chemists and chemical engineers abreast of the latest developments affecting their science and related industries. In addition, the Society is the publisher of Chemical Abstracts, one of the world's most comprehensive abstracting and indexing services. The funds to support these publications are derived chiefly from subscriptions.

The journals and other published writings of the Society serve a very important function, namely: they accomplish the increase and diffusion of chemical knowledge from basic science to applied technology. In so doing, they must generate revenue, without which the Society could not support and continue its publications program in furtherance of its Congressional charter to serve the science and technology of chemistry. The protection of copyright has proved an essential factor in the growth and development of the scientific-publishing program of the Society.

The twenty periodical publications of the Society produce more than 41,000 pages a year and subscriptions in 1972 totaled 330,000. Chemical Abstracts annually produces more than 150.000 pages which go to 5000-plus subscribers. Its abstracts number in excess of 380 000 yearly and its documents indexed in excess of 410,000. The single greatest source of income for all ACS publications is subscription revenue.

As is indicated by the objectives of the American Chemical Society, we believe that the effective dissemination of scientific and technical information is critical to the development, not only of the society and economy of the U.S.A., but also of modern society worldwide.

Scholarly journals are the major instruments for disseminaton and recording of scientific and technical information. These journals are expensive to produce. If the costs are not supported financially by those who make use of them they cannot continue. There is no adequate substitute in sight.

The scholarly scientific or technical journal is more than merely a repository of information. The scientific paper is the block with which is built our understanding of the workings of the world around us. In his papers, each scientist records his important findings for the permaanent record. His successors then have that knowledge precisely recorded and readily available as a base from which they may start. So the process continues in a step-by-step fashion from scientific generation to scientific generation, each worker having available to him or her the totality of the knowledge developed up to that time. Each scientist stands upon the shoulders of his predecessors.

But this analogy of simple physical structure is inadequate, for at least of equal importance is the continuous refinement that takes place. Before new knowledge is added to the record, it is reviewed, criticized and edited by authoritative scholars; then, once published, it is available in the record for continued use, criticism, and refinement. New findings make possible the revelation of weaknesses in the earlier arguments and conclusions, so that as the structure of scientific knowledge is built higher it is also made stronger by the elimination of flaws. While it has been said that mankind is doomed to repeat its mistakes, the system of scientific recording in journals is designed to prevent the repetition of such mistakes and to avoid building upon erroneous conclusions. The scholarly journal record is the instrument for insuring this refining process. In addition, journal papers form an important part of the basis upon which a scientists' standing among his peers is judged. For this reason, scientific scholars are willing to give their time and effort to help produce these evaluated records and are also willing to leave the management of the copyright on their papers in the hands of the scientific societies. These scholars are rarely concerned with private income from their published papers, but they are vitally concerned with the preservation of the intrinsic value of the scientific publishing system.

Publishing costs have risen and are rising continuously, making the continuation of the scientific-journal system increasingly difficult. This has been recognized by the U.S. Government in acknowledging the philosophy that scientific-research work is not complete until its results are published, and in establishing a policy which makes it proper that money may be used from federal support of research projects to help to pay the cost of journal publication. It is this policy which provides most of the funds for paying page charges, charges originally designed to pay the cost of bringing the research journal through the editing, composition, and other production steps, up to the point of being ready to print. However, publishing costs are now so high that these page charges no longer pay even for these initial parts of the publishing process. American Chemical Society records in 1972 show that page charges supported one-third or more of those costs for fewer than 30% of ACS jorunals.

Publishing cost must be shared by the users. If these users are allowed, without payment to the journal, to make or to receive from others copies of the journal papers they may wish to read, it is not likely they will be willing to pay for subscriptions to these journals. If and as free photocopying of journals proceeds, the number of subscribers will shrink, and subscription prices will have to rise. The reduction of subscription income may continue to the point of financial destruction of these journals.

The problems of the commercial publishers of many good scientific journals are even more severe, because these publishers do not have the moderate assistance of page charges.

The doctrine of fair use, developed judicially but not legislatively, has long been useful to the scholar, for it has allowed him to make excerpts to a limited extent for purposes of the files used in his research. However, the modern technology of reprography has offered such mechanical efficiency and capacity for copying that it is presently endangering the protection given the foundations of the scholarly journal by copyright. “Excerpts," instead of being notes, sentences, or paragraphs, are being interpreted to mean full scientific papers, the aforementioned building blocks.

As the copyrighted journal system developed, it was agreed long ago that the scholar should be allowed to hand-copy excerpts for use as background informa20-344-73-9

tion. As a further step, authors became accustomed to ordering reprints of their papers to send to their colleagues to put into their files or briefcases as a means of assuring a good record of the progress of work in the field concerned. This was followed, 20-30 years ago, by some minor use of the old "Photostat" machine. While that process strained a little the proprieties of copyright, it was fairly generally agreed that the mechanics of the practice were such as to help the research scientist while difficult and costly enough not to undermine the basic structure of the journal system.

However, in the past decade the techniques of reprography have advanced to such an extent that third parties, human and mechanical, are beginning to be involved in a substantial way. It now is practical to build what amounts to a private library through rapid copying of virtually anything the scholar thinks he might like to have at hand. While this process has obvious personal advantages, it is now being done extensively and increasingly without these scholarsor the libraries which copy for them-making any contribution to the cost of developing and maintaining the basic information system that makes it possible. Even conservative projections of the development of reprographic techniques within the next decade make it clear that the economic self-destruction of the system within the next decade is a real possibility. Overly permissive legislation could make this destruction a certainty.

Use of a journal by an individual for extracting from it with his own hands, by hand-copying the material specifically needed and directly applicable to his research, is one thing. A practice in which an agent, human or mechanical, acts as copier for an individual or group of individuals wishing to have readily available, without cost, copies of extensive material more or less directly related to his or their studies and research, is quite a different matter. The latter is certainly beyond justification on the mere grounds that technology has made it convenient, nor that the purposes are socially beneficial.

While I am not aware of documented direct proof that photocopying is seriously eroding the subscriptions to scholarly journals, the decline in paid circulation of those journals in recent years is reported by many publishing societies. During the past three years, ending December 31, 1972, the paid circulation of the Journal of the American Chemical Society has declined from 19,419 to 16,139 and as of June 30, 1973 had declined further to 14.726; that of the Journal of Organic Chemistry had declined from 10,557 to 9,217 and as of June 30, 1973 had declined further to 8,575; and that of the Journal of Physical Chemistry from 6,448 to 5,459 and as of June 30, 1973 declined further to 4,997. Others have declined comparably.

Documented evidence of the increase in photocopying is found in "A Study of the Characteristics, Costs, and Magnitude of Inter Library Loans in Academic Libraries," published in 1972 by the Association of Research Libraries. There we find that in 1969-70 the material from periodicals sent out in response to requests for "interlibrary loans" filled by the academic libraries surveyed was 83.2 percent in photocopy form as compared with 15.2 percent in original form and 1.4 percent in microform.

In that same report the volume of interlibrary loan activities from academic libraries is traced. It grew from 859,000 requests received by academic lending libraries in 1965-66 to 1,754,000 in 1969–70, and is projected to reach 2,646,000 in 1974-75.

These data give some indication of the trends in use made of the published literature without contribution of any share of the very considerable cost of evaluating, organizing, and publishing it.

No suggestion is intended here that the use of better means of dissemination should be prevented. What is urged is that such dissemination should not be allowed without its sharing the costs of the basic steps that make such dissemination possible.

An understanding of these facts and a willingness to share these costs is indicated in a statement recently approved by the Board of the Special Libraries Association and published in its magaine, "Special Libraries" in March, 1973. The key section of this statement reads “. . . it would seem appropriate for SLA as an organization comprised of both private and public libraries to seek a rational legislative solution to photocopying problems which will reasonably satisfy the needs of libraries and their patrons and which will protect pubishers and authors.

As a starting point, one potential solution might be the making of provision for the payment of a per-page royalty on photocopies of copyrighted works. Such an arrangement has precedence already in the proposed Copyright Act in Section 111 (relating to cable transmissions), Section 114 (relating to sound recordings), Section 115 (relating to phonograph records), and Section 116 (relating to coin-operated record players).

"A Royalty Tribual of the type proposed in Chapter 8 of the Copyright Revision Bill, but with a different membership composition, could assure that the per-page royalty rate is reasonable."

Recognition of the responsibility to pay for extensive copying of the literature recently has been given by the USSR, which for years has been copying scholarly journals without payment. In May, 1973, the USSR declared its adherence to the Universal Copyright Convention. Its representatives have approached the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Physics, the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and other publishing societies as well as commercial publishers both in the U.S. and abroad, to begin negotiations for the payment of royalties for such copying. To say the least, it would be surprising to find the USSR paying a fair share of the costs of publishing our scientific literature that it copies while the users in the U.S. do not.

It is desirable that use be made of modern technology in developing optimum dissemination. This technology includes the use of modern reprography, but as technology inherently includes economics the means of financial support of the system must be a part of its design. Therefore, photocopying should not be allowed under any circumstances unless an adequate means of control and payment is simultaneously developed to compensate publishers for their basic editorial and composition costs. Otherwise, “fair use" or library-photocopying loopholes, or any other exemptions from the copyright control for either profit or non-profit use, will ultimately destroy the viability of scientific and technical publications or other elements of information dissemination systems.

The copyright law is directed to the interest of the public welfare. It is not in the interest of the public welfare to modify the copyright law so as to allow the economic destruction of the scientific and technical information system.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to the Committee's attention the American Chemical Society's Amicus Curiae Brief filed in support of the Report of the Commissioner in The Williams & Wilkins Co. v. the United States case, now being decided in the United States Court of Claims. Since the Committee is well aware of this case, I will not comment further but will submit a copy of the Society's brief, which is consistent with my statement, for inclusion in the record. Enclosure.

IN THE

UNITED STATES COURT OF CLAIMS

[NO. 73-68]

The Williams & Wilkins Co., PLAINTIFF V. The United States, DEFENDANT

BRIEF ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, AS AMICUS CURIAE, IN SUPPORT OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER

The American Chemical Society respectfully submits that compensation for the copying of copyrighted material pursuant to the Copyright Act of 1909 will "promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts," as specified in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution of the United States. Accordingly, the Society supports the position taken by the Report of the Commissioner as set forth in his Findings of Fact, Recommended Conclusions of Law and Opinion, bearing date of February 16, 1972.

THE INTEREST OF THE AMICUS

The American Chemical Society is incorporated by the Federal Congress as a non-profit, membership, scientific, educational society composed of chemists and chemical engineers, and is exempt from the payment of federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. As of October 30, 1972, the American Chemical Society consisted of more than 110,000 such above described members. Its Federal Charter was granted by an Act of the Congress in Public Law No. 358, 75th Congress, Chapter 762, 1st Session, H.R. 7709, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 25, 1937, to become effective from the first day of January, 1938. Section 2 of the Act is as follows:

"Sec. 2. That the objects of the incorporation shall be to encourage in the broadest and most liberal manner the advancement of chemistry in all its branches; the promotion of research in chemical science and industry; the improvement of the qualifications and usefulness of chemists through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainments; the increase and diffusion of chemical knowledge; and by its meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications, to promote scientific interests and

inquiry, thereby fostering public welfare and education, aiding the development of our country's industries, and adding to the material prosperity and happiness of our people." (emphasis supplied)

Its Federal Incorporation replaced a New York State Charter, which had been effective since November 9, 1877.

One of the principal objects of the Society, as set forth in its Charter, is the dissemination of chemical knowledge through its publications program. The budget for the Society for the year 1973 exceeds $36,000,000, of which more than $29.000.000 are devoted to its publications program.

The Society's publication program now includes twenty journals varying from scholarly journals, containing reports of original research from such fields as medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and agricultural and food chemistry, to a weekly newsmagazine designed to keep chemists and chemical engineers abreast of the latest developments affecting their science and related industries. In addition, the Society is the publisher of CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, one of the world's most comprehensive abstracting and indexing services. The funds to support these publications are derived chiefly from subscriptions.

The journals and other published writings of the Society serve two important functions, namely: first, they accomplish the increase and diffusion of chemical knowledge and related purposes of the Society; second, they generate revenue, without which the Society could not support and continue its publications program in furtherance of its Congressional charter to serve the science and industry of chemistry. The protection of copyright has proved an important factor in the growth and development of the scientific-publishing program of the Society.

The Society's publications, accompanied by the periodicity of publication and the cost to subscribers, are as follows:

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Note: Additionally, the Society publishes on a nonperiodical basis the following: Director of Members; Abstracts of Meeting Papers; Advances in Chemistry Series; Seidell's Solubilities of Inorganic and Organic Compounds; Specifications and Test Methods for Laboratory Compounds; Specifications and Test Methods for Laboratory Reagent Chemicals; Collective Indexes to Chemical Abstracts and Society Journals; Such other books, pamphlets, and reprints as may be authorized by the board of directors.

These twenty periodical publications of the Society produce more than 41,000 pages a year, and CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS produces more than 150,000 pages a year. Its abstracts number in excess of 380,000 and its documents indexed in excess of 410.000.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that the amicus has a deep and abiding interest in the outcome of this case. It should also be obvious why the amicus supports the position of the plaintiff in the case; it is abundantly clear that, in working toward the objective of the advancement of the science and technology of chemistry, the most effective possible dissemination of information is a primary requirement. In order to effect this, the American Chemical Society, operating as a not-for-profit society, works to build the best possible record of sci

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