In spite of its flamish tone, the extended discourse on the
citation issue is important and has been informative. I'm not involved
enough to actively comment, but Terry Seale's "horror story" begs a
response. The underlying point, that changing the citation system might
lead to unwelcome changes in West's business practices, is perhaps worth
considering, but not as presented.
Even stripping away the intended hyperbole, the idea that West's
owners would intentionally divest an incredible cash cow (It would still
be an incredible cash cow even without hegemonic control of the citation
system), that the successful multibillion dollar bidder would be hostile
to the community that makes up its market, and that it would then act in
a way to drive business into the arms of the new competitors sure to
spring up under a neutral citation system (this is why West is opposed to
the change, after all) and essentially destroy a multibillion dollar
investment...well, pardon me if I'm not scared.
Just as with the break up of AT&T, the world may change if
control of the citation system is wrestled from West's hands, and the
changes may be good and bad, but we will still need the kind of prducts
West puts out. They will probably continue to be the dominant legal
publisher, and if they don't want to someone else will.
Paul D. Healey J.D. (graduate student and technology lab coordinator),
School of Library and Information Science
3071 Main Library, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52241
email: phealey@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu Phone: 319-335-6478
"Its like everybody has their own ladder. Some climb the rungs to
the top. But some don't even know they have one."
--"Tampopo" by Juzo Itami
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