Commercial Pressures upon Electronic Publishing

Abstract

Considers the tendency of individuals and companies to misuse their accreted power; with particular reference to commercial electronic publishing. Illustrates the threats posed to freedom of expression and circulation of ideas and information with three examples of recent trends. Considers the admission, by Bill Gates to a Senate Judiciary Committee enquiry, that the Microsoft Corporation imposes artificial restrictions upon computer manufacturing companies and information providers, which prevent them from promoting or preloading Netscape’s products. Considers also the pressure exerted by Rupert Murdoch on editors at HarperCollins to insist that an author, Chris Patten, tone down his comments on the Chinese government or cancel publication of his book. Considers that a more far reaching development was the proposed merger (since withdrawn) between the publishers, Reed Elsevier and Wolters Kluwer, with its potential for imposing artificially restrictive conditions upon the use of their publications. Concludes by considering possible licensing conditions which would prevent academic publishers from restricting the manner and format in which their information could be stored, which could insist that electronic document delivery be considered as an integral part of a journal subscription.