SOVIET COPYRIGHT PROBLEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00714R000100330001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 28, 1998
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/12/18: CIA-RDP83-00714R000100330001-9
R. Associate Deputy Director for Intelligence
Soviet Copyright Problem
to your request for a report on the Soviet
t situation and its impact on FBIB services.
Ak
2. The USSR became a signatory to the Universal Copyright
n (UCC) in y, 1973. continued to translate and
to Soviet: copyright material without restriction based on
our own judgment that the value of this material
i eighed the small risk of such a policy. Sub-
-"Vent , certairk US. firms began to enter into "exclusive trans-
lation right" contracts with the Soviet Copyright Office (VAAP). As
we became aware of publications covered by such contracts we restricted
dissemination of translations to USIB components only.
3. In January 1975 VAIN complained to JPRS that it had trans-
(in January 19' 4) a copyrighted Soviet book, MIAOVOY OKFAN
, cgnsgned to a publisher in April 1973, but not
published. until May. A copy of TARP ? s letter and its
on are attached. Upon receipt of this letter we again
which advised us to restrict dissemination of all
translations of ccpy igbted Soviet publications to. U . S . Government
only. we have peepared a JPRS reply to VAAP (attached)
d4.nated with OGC, NTIS, and Department of state.
s also in touch with the Department of Justice STAT
NTIS is in contact with the Air ?orce and other
anent agencies concerned.
4. NTIS is recr wing complaints and is itself unhappy with
our restricted diss i tion which has out into its service to the
alic. other Government--sponsored translations of copyrighted
Wiest publications have also been restricted including those of
tb* National Science: 'ogndation. We estimate that 60 percent of the
political, econo ic, mi itary, and sociological material and 95
percent of scientific and technical material that. we translate
txva Soviet journals and books cease from copyrighted sources and,
tefore, now are restricted to Government users. Only abstracts,
Approved For Release 2007/12/18: CIA-RDP83-00714R000100330001-9
 Approved For Release 2007/12/18: CIA-RDP83-00714R000100330001-9
,..... ,....c nre ..a.a?.er u. rcines4 Wid L. ? A
lic. of 23 JPt S serials on the USSR, eight contain only
are considered a "near product," continue to be available
) 4Y (57), METIROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY (42), A SPAC
Tbos* copyrighted Soviet publications which have
of public rubscriptions are USA t ECtu UCS,
tion of seven depends on the materials contained
fected. Eight are limited to Goverment use
poraltions, Soviet newspapers, such as PRAVtt A and
we depend for current intelligence inforeaation to
M ICIN (39). USA recipients include univerait
n our Wire sud in the DAILY ART are not copyrighted.
't'XS Director Williams a# x and his duty Peter Urbach are
t with VAMP re 4 ss entatives 24 and 26 march to explore
ty of an agr t which will allow the U.S. Governs t to
ansl to a disseminate copyrighted Soviet materials.
iss,4pglying to both Goverment and public dissemination
cutive agency to collect and pay attever royalties
of last resort, IS proposes to become if
have further questions about this matter, please lot
I w. We will report significant developents as they STAT
STAT
tier and translation.
t JP.RS reply to VMP.
Distribution:
Orig. & 1 - Addressee w/atts.
1 - Chief/Prod w/atts.
1 - persdonal file w/atts.
1 - D/F1:31S w/atts.
1 - FBIS Executive Registryw/atts.
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/12/18: CIA-RDP83-00714R000100330001-9