On Wednesday, 24 September 2014, Knowledge Ecology International delivered this intervention on agenda item 15, Matters Relating to the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)
WIPO General Assembly 2014
15. Matters Relating to the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)
Statement of Knowledge Ecology International
Knowledge Ecology International opposes further work on the treaty for the protection of broadcasting organizations. Broadcasters claim they need the treaty to address signal theft. If that was true, the broadcasters would accept something that did not extend to post fixation rights. We believe the broadcasting lobby is looking for economic rights in content they did not create and do not own, and this will come at the expense of copyright holders and consumers.
KEI is also concerned that no one at WIPO can explain how the broadcast treaty will impact the distribution of income between copyright holders, and national and big international broadcasting entities. If the treaty shifts money from most countries to a handful of giant cable and TV channel owners, it will be a step backwards,- a sort of an anti-reform. On top of all this, some want to impose this poorly conceived treaty on the Internet, imposing all sorts of new liabilities for the sharing of information.
KEI does support work at the SCCR on copyright limitations and exceptions, including work on binding treaties setting out minimum standards for exceptions, but also, in addition, work on a revision of the Tunis Model Law for developing countries.
It may be possible to the SCCR to reach timely consensus on the minimum copyright limitations and exceptions for preservation and archiving, two important functions that have global cross border benefits, and which are mature enough to justify norm setting.
The SCCR should pose research questions for the Office of the Chief Economist, on the question of the impact of long copyright terms on performers, book publishers and consumers.
Thank you.
The END.