SCCR 32 EFF on the GRULAC paper

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EFF: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Electronic Frontier Foundation welcomes the paper from GRULAC. It is a topic long overdue tore discussion and the paper takes a refreshing clean slate approach to the challenges that the transition to digital environment poses to copyright owners and user. For example, the paper acknowledge that the default assume that reproduction of works requires the per miss of the copyright owner is a poor fit for the digital environment reproduction is a routine and integral feature of network. Some of the possibilities to address this disconnect such as replaces the need for permission with a duty to pay equitable remuneration to copyright owners are interesting topics for discussions. EFF note with dismay, may be foreclosed by plural lateral agreements that members have entered into outside of WIPO and this in itself should be a serious concern for the Committee. Leaving that aside what other policy options pointed to in the GRULAC paper stand out? We belief that a good place to start would be to look at the adequacy of copyright limitations and exceptions in the digital and online environment and in particular the extent to which open flexible and general copyright exceptions such as fair use are a more appropriate fit. The need for stronger protection of rights of users to bypass technological protection mechanism to act Susanne use lawfully acquired content is a vital topic of concern. As to the issue of improving the transparency of payments made to artists by labels and online platforms we consider there may be merit in addressing this and we encourage the committee to look at technical solutions to to problem. As this may create more problems than it solves. For example, yesterday the recording artists image spoke at EFF side event in room B to talk about how block chain technology might can useful in developing a global music database. In conclusion for now we thank GRULAC again for most stimulating contribution and we look forward to participating in ongoing open-ended discussions of the committee on the issues that it presents. Thank you.