SCCR 28 Day 1: The European Union Statement regarding the 3 topics: boradcasting, L&E for Libraries and Education
EUROPEAN UNION: Thank you, Chairman. The European Union and its Member States would like to thank you and the WIPO Secretariat for the work related to the possible treaty on the work of broadcasting organizations and in particular for having prepared the 27th session of the standing committee during which we conducted further descushions on the main element of the treaty such as the discover of applications and the rights. The WIPO treaty on broadcasting organizations remains a high priority for the European Union and its Member States. We are keen to see an improvement in the international broadcasting organizations but is meaningful in especially in the use of modern technology by broadcasting organizations.
It’s important that the protection is adopted to the specific problems broadcasting organizations face, and that at the same time, respects the rights of right holders in works and other protected subject matter carried by broadcast signals. The European Union and its Member States stand as committed as every to work towards this goal. We believe that in order to achieve a treaty, giving broadcasting organizations adequate and effective protection, a broad consensus needs to be built as to the problems that need addressing, and as to the extent of protection to be granted. During the last standing committee, we have agreed to continue our discussions on the main elements of the treaty. We are ready to further engage in these discussions in order to better understanding various positions, to map differences and points of convergence with the view of working out possible compromise options.
We would have also been ready to engage in technical discussions on various modes of transmissions with experts from broadcasting organizations as proposed by some delegations during the last standing committee.
The European and its Member States are looking forward to discussions on the working document, at the same time of reserve the rights and making Texual comments on this document.
[…]
In another intervention, the European Union stressed again that they support a Diplomatic Conference as soon as possible because the treaty for the protection of braodcasting organizatiosn is “the highest priority”. However regarding libraries, archives, educational, teaching and research institutions, and for persons with other disabilities:
“we hope that the discussions taking place this week will be constructive and advanced based on a shared understanding of the objectives and the approach to be followed.
The European Union and its Member States believe that the current international copyright framework already provides for sufficient legal space for Member States of WIPO to devise, adopt and implement meaningful limitations and exceptions in an analog and digital context while respecting the necessary balance to ensure that copyright continues to be an incentive and a reward to creativity.
We consider that there’s no need for further rulemaking at international level in this regard and we reiterate that the exchange of ideas and best practices is for us, the appropriate way forward on this matter.
[…]