    Committee on Copyright and Other Legal Matters (CLM)Report from the Chair on Amsterdam Meetings, August 1998The Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM) met three times during the Amsterdam conference. This was the first opportunity that the Committee had to meet in physical form as it was established only during the Copenhagen conference. The first meeting was essentially devoted to administrative matters and identifying the particular areas in which CLM would need to devote some time. The second meeting was open to any observers who wish to attend. In the event over 90 did so, providing an ideal opportunity to receive feedback on the draft work planned for 1998/99. The third meeting was once again a business meeting at which Copyright was identified as an item high on the agenda with a working group of 4 Committee members reviewing IFLA's statement on Copyright in an Electronic Environment. Other issues discussed include planning on how to develop a network of experts to assist the Committee in its work; preparing for a Committee member to be an observer at the new WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright; licensing; importation of books and other information products (the Florence Agreement); the effects of mergers of information providers; the potential impact of the Multi-lateral Agreement on Investment (MAI); privacy issues arising from electronic copyright management systems, and education and training. Liability for the accuracy or currency of information supplied was also raised as an issue. This was not considered an exhaustive list but would provide the Committee with plenty of activity in the foreseeable future!The Committee itself consists of both nominated members and resource persons identified by Committee members and others as those who would make a valuable contribution in this area Some 23 countries are represented on the Committee, giving a wide geographical and economic spread of interests. Working groups of two or more Committee members have been established to look at all the topics identified in the list above. The Chair of the Committee is Marianne Scott, the National Librarian of Canada and the Secretariat is provided by the IFLA UAP Office at the British Library in Boston Spa. As well as providing the normal Secretariat services to the Committee the UAP Office is actively engaged in collecting information on legal developments which relate to library matters throughout the world. For example, some aspects of the Blue Shield initiative are important for the work of the Committee and the Office has already taken some steps in this area to become involved in this aspect of the work. All IFLA members are encouraged to keep the Secretariat informed of any legal issues in their areas which might be of any interest to the Committee. The Chair, Dr. Marianne Scott, can be contacted at the National Library of Canada, 395 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N4, Telephone: 613-996-1623, Fax: 613-996-7941, E-mail: marianne.scott@nlc-bnc.ca, and the Secretariat at the British Library,
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