Electronic publishing brings many benefits to the publisher and the reader. For the publisher, it means a reduction in cost of two-thirds to three-quarters; the ability to present color images in formats larger than page size at no extra cost; and the means to publish books and periodicals in limited runs that would be completely uneconomic if done in hard copy.

For the reader, it means a wider diversity of publications, better and more varied illustrations, a reduction in the rate of increase in the purchase price, and the ability to store more in less space.

The Internet era has brought a strange change in some people's attitude toward intellectual material. That is, the idea that if intellectual material is on the computer, it should be free for everybody to use as they desire. This is the latest reincarnation of the something for nothing attitude that has become popular over the last 50 years. The intellectual thought presented in electronic media differs from intellectual thought presented in hard copy only by the means of presentation. Electronic publication is not a license to cut and paste someone else's paper.

The GCSSEPM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. A considerable part of our income is from sales of our publications. While it is convenient for organizations to place electronic media on central servers, doing so robs us of sales that we need to have in order to continue to offer new publications and meetings; it is the same as if one book is passed around and everyone copies it for their own use. Putting a CD on a server without paying a license fee amounts to giving them away and frankly we can not afford to do so. Therefore, we must request that corporations and organizations pay a license fee based on the likely number of staff who use the CD, now and in the future, while the CD is on the server. Please note that does not necessarily mean total number of employees in the company.

For example, if there are 150 geoscientists in a company and 18 are involved in deep water exploration and it is expected that this number will remain the same for the foreseeable future, then a license for 15 to 25 is needed. If a research lab will have access to the server, then the number of people who are involved in deep water deposition must be included.

Our license system is based on the premise that our individual CD's cost $70. Our license is based on "70%," but by categories, as follows:

Checks should be made payable to:
Gulf Coast Section Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Foundation. (This can be abbreviated to GCSSEPM Foundation.)

Our address is:
2719 South Southern Oaks Drive, Houston, TX 77068-2610.

Questions or Comments about GCSSEPM?

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