Comments on: Ethics of Data Transformation and Republishing http://getluky.net/2008/04/15/ethics-of-data-transformation-and-republishing/ Bred for skill in magic. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:47:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: getluky http://getluky.net/2008/04/15/ethics-of-data-transformation-and-republishing/#comment-310249 getluky Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:34:12 +0000 http://getluky.net/?p=277#comment-310249 <p>Daniel, that's a really depressing read. In the actual FOIA response letter (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2537243/Answer-to-FOIA-Request-2) that Carl got, I think there's a small contradiction in that they state that some documents had begun to decay at the time of that contract being signed, whereas they also state that providing physical access to paper copies should be enough to fulfill the obligations to the public.</p> <p>As even electronic copies are subject to 'bit-rot', I believe it is a fair question to ask whether an electronic, open-standards format for storage for these documents that is not owned by a private company is the only way to ensure permanent public access to this important historical archive.</p> Daniel, that’s a really depressing read. In the actual FOIA response letter (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2537243/Answer-to-FOIA-Request-2) that Carl got, I think there’s a small contradiction in that they state that some documents had begun to decay at the time of that contract being signed, whereas they also state that providing physical access to paper copies should be enough to fulfill the obligations to the public.

As even electronic copies are subject to ‘bit-rot’, I believe it is a fair question to ask whether an electronic, open-standards format for storage for these documents that is not owned by a private company is the only way to ensure permanent public access to this important historical archive.

]]> By: Daniel Raffel http://getluky.net/2008/04/15/ethics-of-data-transformation-and-republishing/#comment-310248 Daniel Raffel Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:16:11 +0000 http://getluky.net/?p=277#comment-310248 <p>gordon, check this out: http://freegovinfo.info/node/1798 :sigh: it really sheds some additional light on the situation</p> gordon, check this out: http://freegovinfo.info/node/1798 :sigh: it really sheds some additional light on the situation

]]> By: getluky http://getluky.net/2008/04/15/ethics-of-data-transformation-and-republishing/#comment-310217 getluky Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:37:43 +0000 http://getluky.net/?p=277#comment-310217 <p>Thanks for your comment, Carl. I think that's a very fair benchmark, and totally agree with the sentiment. I hope I was able to emphasize the importance of that enough in my post.</p> Thanks for your comment, Carl. I think that’s a very fair benchmark, and totally agree with the sentiment. I hope I was able to emphasize the importance of that enough in my post.

]]> By: Carl Malamud http://getluky.net/2008/04/15/ethics-of-data-transformation-and-republishing/#comment-310216 Carl Malamud Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:24:48 +0000 http://getluky.net/?p=277#comment-310216 <p>| primary source data be available in at least one form.</p> <p>That's really all we're asking. Artificial barriers to entry are obstacles to innovation as well as obstacles to democracy. The benchmark I like to use is that anybody at the end of a cable modem or in a dorm room ought to be able to download the primary materials, no matter how rough, and do something new and useful, whether for academic glory, business wealth, or as a tool for more effective legal practice.</p> <p>(FWIW, there is a growing movement of people working together to put primary law materials on the Internet. Some of them are for-profit, some are non-profit ... we're all working for a common aim.)</p> | primary source data be available in at least one form.

That’s really all we’re asking. Artificial barriers to entry are obstacles to innovation as well as obstacles to democracy. The benchmark I like to use is that anybody at the end of a cable modem or in a dorm room ought to be able to download the primary materials, no matter how rough, and do something new and useful, whether for academic glory, business wealth, or as a tool for more effective legal practice.

(FWIW, there is a growing movement of people working together to put primary law materials on the Internet. Some of them are for-profit, some are non-profit … we’re all working for a common aim.)

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