Let's put this in perspective.
Is stealing $20 from a bank ok because they have thousands of dollars and I
only need $20?
In essence that is what we are doing when we give ICSD data online. Last
time I saw a copy of the ICSD, the database had a copyright on it. It is
then illegal to transmit the data to any party that has not already
purchased a copy of the database. Anyone following the news and the Napster
case is finding this out (Napster, btw, is an online music community -
sharing music files the users download and trade for other music files).
Borrowing from the philosophy of companies on stealing: "Everytime somebody
steals something, it raises the prices for everyone else."
Having a searchable database online that you could pay per structure would
be ideal. But how cost effective? How many structures would be retrieved
per year? How many licenses would they lose? We have to remember, this is
a company providing a service for a fee - its not free (no matter how much
we would like it to be). If you want it for free, go to your nearest
University library, settle in (because it will probably take a while), and
start looking through the literature until you find what you need. The
typical comeback to that is, "But I have better things to do with my time!"
Guess what, that is why you PAY someone else to do it (they have already
spent a considerable amount of time doing just that...pouring over
literature references, checking and double checking!)
As for their tax dollars supporting the heating costs at NIST, they probably
do. But that has nothing to do with with this issue (and yes I do know that
NIST is taking over the responsibility for distributing the ICSD). But, if
that does make a difference, I'll take a couple of free bottles of XRD SRMs!
Dr. Ryan S. Winburn
Science Division
Minot State University
500 University Ave. W
Minot, ND 58707
Phone: (701) 858-3084
Fax: (701) 858-3163
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: Natrite - Na2 CO3
> In a message dated 00-11-09 12:39:08 EST, you write:
>
> << A company such as USG would not be able to lease the ICSD at the $500
> academic price. I no longer remember the for-profit price, but it is
> significantly more. However, these prices cover the cost of tabulating
> the data -- and would likely come down if more people subscribed rather
> than pirated the contents.
>
> It is a shame that a company that describes themselves as
>
> "... the world's largest producer of gypsum wallboard, joint compound
> and a vast array of related construction products. As North
> America's number one building materials manufacturer and distributor,
> we are also number one in the North American wallboard and joint
> treatment markets and number two in the ceilings market.
>
> "With 249 worldwide locations and more than 14,000 employees, USG is
> dedicated to providing innovative building solutions that set new
> standards for productivity and efficiency, helping contractors and
> architects deliver better quality and innovative designs, and
> maintaining
> strong ties with our customers while expanding our global distribution
> reach."
>
> has to resort to requesting structural data via this mailing list.
>
> Brian Toby >>
>
>
> I know exactly what motivates the requestor from USG: he infrequently has
a
> need for a few structural data and is stuck either to call for help on
this
> (I admit convenient) forum or buy the entire database for I do not know
how
> many thousands of dollars. Therefore, I come back to suggestions I made
> before:
> Make it possible to obtain structural data on a 'pay per structure' basis.
> ASTM, for example, has such a system in place. For $28 a piece online, you
> can download or have faxed to you any ASTM standard desired. Why is this
not
> possible with ICSD? It would take out all the controversy whenever
somebody
> wants to know a few structural data. It is somewhat ridiculous, to give
> somebody the 'run-a-round' by providing indirect references when the
> information wanted is at the fingertips of many (company bashing does not
do
> any good either; USG is a big taxpayer and certainly contributes that the
> people at NIST have heated quarters over the long winter).
>
> L. Keller
> CAMET Research, Inc.
