This Friday 18th October, the International Conference on Exceptions and Limitations at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) begins.

It will be an opportunity to deliver on the mandate given by Member States “to consider the opportunities and challenges provided by various international solutions including soft law, contractual/licensing and normative approaches, as appropriate”.

IFLA will be there, encouraging stakeholders to deliver a concrete action plan that improves the situation for libraries.

This conference is a unique moment and a potential turning point for libraries, archives, and museums, which need the support of Member States in order to benefit from the legal means to continue their public service mission across borders.

By welcoming many experts from all over the world to specific thematic panels (libraries, archives, museums, education and research), the conference will hear about the experience and needs of a variety of cultural heritage institutions.

IFLA and its partners, Electronic Information for Libraries, the International Council on Archives, Society of American Archivists, International Council on Museums and Library Copyright Alliance will be present to support and promote the legal needs of libraries, archives, museums, education and research by highlighting the needs for international action, particularly on preservation issues.

You can view the conference programme online, and follow the webcasting and the IFLA team on Twitter: Stephen Wyber and Camille Francoise