Today is day 5 of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights which for over 2 years has been discussing the first ever treaty that would involved a limitation to copyright, in these case to benefit blind people as well as people with other disabilities. It is day 2 of plenary discussions regarding the treaty for people with disabilities.
Today the discussion on the definition of “authorized entity” has started. It is one of the important and technical issues that could make a treaty good or bad, useful or ineffective.
An “authorized entity” or AE is the institution that provides the works in accessible format to the people with visual impairments who are the beneficiaries of the future treaty. Depending on how broad or narrow or inclusive v. restrictive the definition gets to be by the end of the negotiation, access is conditioned.
Some of the questions this morning:
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has convened the 24th Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) which will take place from 16 July 2012 to 25 July 2012 at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Ambassador Darlington Mwape (Zambia) is chairing the 24th SCCR. The morning session of the SCCR witnessed opening remarks by group coordinators. The following statement was delivered by Egypt on behalf of the African Group.
Senator Harkin (D-IA) sends letter to President Obama supporting a WIPO treaty for the visually impaired
On Friday, March 30, 2012, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee sent a letter to President Obama supporting an international treaty for persons who are visually impaired or have other disabilities. The letter urges the Obama administration to achieve several goals in such a treaty, including robust minimum standards that do not diminish the rights provided for under U.S. Continue Reading
1 2012: Representatives Issa (R-CA) and Maloney (D-NY) introduce anti-open access legislation
On December 16, 2011, H.R. 3699, “the Research Works Act”, was introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee member Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). This is how the Association of American Publishers describes the bill:
SCCR23: Statement by KEI on the protection of broadcasting organizations
With respect to broadcasting, KEI reiterates its opposition to work at WIPO on a new treaty for broadcasting organizations.When governments grant intellectual property rights to broadcasting organizations, they undermine the rights of copyright holders, and reduce the incomes of creative communities.
#SCCR23: Concluding remarks of Brazil
Thank you Mr. Chairman,First, my delegation would like to congratulate you on the very good job performed as the Chairman of this Session of the SCCR. We also thank Assistant Director General, Mr. Trevor Clarke, and the Secretariat for all the hard work, and also the interpreters.
My delegation would like to extend its congratulations to all delegations, for their hard and constructive work along these two weeks of Session, and for the flexibility in order to reach acceptable solutions.
WIPO releases text on an international instrument on L&Es for persons with print disabilities: SCCR/23/7 Prov
On Friday, 2 December 2011, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released an official paper, dated 1 December 2011, entitled “Working Document on an International Instrument on Limitations and Exceptions for Persons with Print Disabilities” prepared by the “Secretariat on the (to be adopted by the Committee during the SCCR/23 session).” This document, numbered as SCCR/23/7 Prov., is expected to be adopted today by the SCCR. SCCR/23/7 Prov can be found here:
Continue ReadingSCCR 23: Opening round of interventions on Treaty for the Blind, Visually Impaired and other Reading Disabled Persons
General statement of the United States of America at SCCR 23
The United States delivered its general statement to the 23rd session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) on Monday, 21 November 2011. The following text is captured from WIPO’s live stream of this meeting.