Re: lynx-dev [Off-topic] 'Talking books' for the blind

[pg]

In a recent note, David Henderson said:

> Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 19:35:34 -0500 (CDT)
> 
> >> I have been asked to verify that the 'talking books' that one would
> >> buy in a bookstore, or rent from a library, make use of 'standard'
> >> audio cassettes, so that one could play the books in a car's tape
> >> player, or on a Walkman,for example.
> 
> The special 'talking books for the blind' mentioned by Laura Eaves are
> apparently not sold in regular bookstores like WaldenBooks or B. Dalton,
> or if they are, they're not in the "Audiobooks" section.  Each of the
> audiobooks I get there (Star Trek, X-Files, Dilbert, all in the same
> section as those management tapes Roger Hill mentioned) plays on a
> standard audio cassette player.
> 
I believe transcriptions for the blind are exempt from restrictions
of the copyright on the original work.  The special format likely
soothes the publishers' fears concerning theft of intellectual
property.

-- gil