The negotiation of the Intellectual Property Protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area offers an opportunity to shape laws across the continent to support education, research and development. IFLA and AfLIA have set out ten principles for negotiators to bear in mind to make this happen. Read More
In 2012, the European Union agreed a Directive on Orphan Works (OWD) (e.g. works for which institutions have not identify or located the rightsholder, preventing them from asking for an agreement to use works), to improve legal certainty across the EU in digitising and disseminating these materials. Read More
The WIPO General Assembly will take place on 21st to 29th September 2020. IFLA will participate in order to make the case for libraries. Read More
The 61st Series of Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) takes place from 21 to 29 September 2020, alongside other meetings such as the Marrakesh Treaty Assembly. This is the key opportunity for Member States to hear updates and take decisions about the work of WIPO… Read More
IFLA has submitted a response to a consultation by the European Commission on guidance to Member States on how to implement the controversial new provisions on internet platforms introduced by the 2019 Copyright Directive. In the face of efforts by rightholder organisations to wish away the protections offered for user rights – including the enjoyment of exceptions and limitations to copyright – IFLA has joined other groups working to safeguard these guarantees as part of a balanced overall regime. Read More
In order to fulfil their mission to provide access to information, libraries increasingly focus on acquiring, or buying licences, to digital content. As such, our institutions have a strong interest in ensuring that markets for digital content – and the rules that govern them – function in… Read More
IFLA has called for South Africa’s Parliament to return the country’s Copyright Amendment Bill to the President for signature, and to reject the questionable allegations of unconstitutionality made against it. Read More
IFLA took part in the second session of the conversation on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 7-9 July 2020. Read More
There has been disappointing news from Mexico, where recent copyright legislation risks making access to information significantly harder, while also undermining the role of the judiciary and lawmakers. Local libraries and other actors are calling for a constitutional review. Read More
Following years of advocacy in favour of long-overdue copyright reforms, libraries in South Africa will need to wait a while longer for change. Following pressure from foreign governments, the Parliament will now have to reconsider the Copyright Amendment Bill. Read More