Government Regulation of the E industry?

Perhaps the US should follow the lead of one of its allies, the U.K. that is proposing the creation of a new agency on digital rights. Such an agency would look into the relations of authors, commercial interests, rights and consumers. Given the catastrophe of newspapers in recent months, lawmakers in our nation ought to be noticing another looming information crisis.

This may be a stretch for the Obama administration, given its full plate and the recent cries against its attempts to regulate healthcare and financial markets. And yet, what a relief to be looking into something before a full scale crisis in publishing is upon us. Who knows? Perhaps the crisis in the infrastructure of trade book publishing that the e-book presents could be averted.

Ashling, Jim. “Comments Sought on Digital Rights Proposals” Information Today May 2008 p. 24.