Let’s Talk about Situations: Fair Use Code of Best Practices Discussions in January 2026

[Fox, Claire]

Hello SPN community,

SPN’s Law & Policy Working Group invites you to join two discussion sessions on January 15^th (next week!) and 22^nd where we’ll take a closer look at the  Fair Use Code of Best Practices in Software Preservation. 

Based on feedback from the SPN community, these two sessions will focus on the first two “Situations” in the Code of Best Practices. 

Our goal for these sessions is to help our community enliven its collective understanding of the scope of fair use for these two fundamental aspects of our work.

Before these discussions, we are interested in hearing your stories and questions.  Please fill out our Examples and Questions for January 2026 form. Please only include information that you would be comfortable with us sharing during the session - but please note that you may share anonymously, if you prefer. 

The discussion sessions will take place as follows: 

“Situation One: Accessioning, Stabilizing, Evaluating, and Describing Digital Objects”

2pm-3pm EDT, January 15th, 2026

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89146957114?pwd=I0gDzSDbVjqEt62flwbQuzJdraZbYW.1&jst=2

“Situation Two: Documenting Software in Operation, and Making That Documentation Available”

3PM  EDT, January 22nd, 2026

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81957114963?pwd=oXfeK2fjUBK6j0M5paqwaPGrhfxypo.1&jst=2

We are looking forward to these discussions with you all. 

Best,

Claire Fox

(On behalf of the SPN Law & Policy WG)

Claire Fox (she/her/hers)

Software Preservation and Emulation Librarian

Preservation and Conservation Services

Yale Library

(working remotely, 10a-6p ET)