Stay up to date with our latest developments, initiatives, and new resources!
Today, the Plenary of the European Parliament adopted the Copyright Directive by a significantly reduced margin compared to previous votes. It will now be for libraries at the national level to make the most of new possibilities, while continuing the fight for freedom of expression.
Next week’s vote on the European Union’s Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market is an opportunity to advance the situation of libraries. But unless an Article which would effectively force the filtering of speech on the internet is removed, it could also do a lot of harm.
IFLA has issued a brief on open educational resources, building on the recent UNESCO recommendation. This underlines the role librarians can play in creating, curating and ensuring access to these materials, and key issues surrounding them.
2019 will be a key year to show what libraries around the world need from copyright laws. A series of regional seminars organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation will bring together senior officials, and IFLA will be there.
After thirty months of discussion, there was provisional agreement yesterday on the EU’s draft Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. While there have been marked steps forwards for libraries, the text retains provisions that pose serious threats to freedom of access to information and freedom of expression.
Following a call for comments by the government of New Zealand Te Aotearoa on draft legislation designed to implement the Marrakesh Treaty, IFLA has made a submission. This highlights the need to reject provisions that go beyond what the Treaty requires, and to respect the fundamental principle of non-discrimination.
The story of eLending in Denmark is a particular one. However, following some years of tension, Danish libraries are now lending more eBooks than ever, with all major publishers readily supporting this work. We interview Mikkel Christoffersen to find out what has happened.
This week, 89 organisations, defenders of freedom of expression and freedom of access to information, co-signed a letter asking for the deletion of controversial articles in the proposed European Copyright Directive. IFLA, who had already openly underlined the threat posed by these provisions to access to information, is among the signatories. There is right now momentum for their deletion.
IFLA has today published an update to its Marrakesh Monitoring Report. This sets out which countries have ratified or acceded to the Treaty, and which have taken the necessary steps at the national level to make it a reality. It underlines the need for continued attention at the national level to make a reality of the promise of Marrakesh.
The concept of controlled digital lending is receiving growing attention. Originating in the United States, it is now a subject of discussion elsewhere in the world, raising both interest and concern. IFLA has interviewed Jonathan Band, a member of the Libraries Copyright Alliance, to find out more.
IFLA has interviewed Sharon Day, speaking on behalf of a campaign in Canada to boost the availability - and affordability - of eBooks for libraries. The goal - to ensure that Canada's libraries can fulfil their mission of giving readers maximum possible access to knowledge and culture.
IFLA is just back from another exciting week at the World Intellectual Property Organization, where United Nations Member States discussed how to move forwards on exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries and other topics
IFLA Secretary General Gerald Leitner has written a letter to key South African ministers and parliamentarians, urging them to take the final steps necessary to approve a copyright reform that will be good for libraries and good for their users. People with print disabilities will benefit particularly from the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty that the reforms enable.
Ahead of further debate around the South African Copyright Amendment Bill, IFLA would like to share views on a number of issues raised by some stakeholders around the proposed legislation. Although the Bill is well underway, and there is positive progress on several library-related topics, there is concern that issues raised by a few stakeholders might slow down or undermine progress.
Copyright is a core element of libraries’ work, and this is why IFLA is an active advocate for better copyright laws. Our engagement at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a key part of this. WIPO’s copyright committee (SCCR) meets twice a year and has capacity to legislate on several matters. The topic of exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries, archives and museums are on the table for discussion. The next meeting is getting closer: 26-30 November.
term of office August 2019 – August 2021
Following extensive discussions, libraries in the Netherlands have come to an agreement with publishers and others about eBook availability in the country. We interviewed Francien van Bohemen, Deputy Director of the Dutch Public Library Association, to find out more about the deal.
It’s Open Access Week! This year’s topic is “Designing Equitable Foundations for Open Knowledge”. It raises questions such as “How do we ensure sustainability models used for open access are not exclusionary? What are inequities that open systems can recreate or reinforce? Whose voices are prioritized? Who is excluded?”.
At the recently celebrated General Assemblies, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)’s Director General Francis Gurry underlined the success of the Marrakesh treaty, which he says, “is moving at a rate that exceeds that of any other Treaty in this organisation”.
In light of the current review of Canada’s copyright law, IFLA has submitted comments in order to strengthen the voice of libraries in the process.