When you publish a book or magazine in France you’re required to give 2 copies to the national library for archive purpose. Doesn't something like that exist in other countries?
back
5 comments
It certainly does in Spain. We even extended it to videogames, although I don't know how much that achieves when so many games are barely playable before the first few patches, have much of their content released in future updates and many are unplayable after the servers close.
Code source + Assets or binary?
Just compiled game program and assets, simply a copy of whatever build you published.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_deposit
Not all books in the state libraries are equal. Historical copies and popular authors (popular among researchers, a much bigger set already) are exhibited and get attention, John Doe's book of family recipes gets sent to some giant dark warehouse people rarely visit.
It is easy to forget that it is an 18th century solution born from 18th century approach to knowledge. Back then, bibliographies of everything printed in certain year in certain country could be compiled, and they were supposed to be more than just lists, to help other men of books keep up with Progress.
It certainly does in Poland. My partner's publishing contract contained a provision for the publisher to do it.
Apparently it was required by the Library of Congress in the U.S., but the Supreme Court might have nixxed that because of the Constitution's 4th Amendment (must be reimbursed if required to turn over property).
Does that applies to all books, even if you have 10 copies printed and distribute them privately?