WIPO SCCR 17: KEI statement on copyright limitations and exceptions

These are the notes I used for my oral presentation today at the WIPO SCCR 17 discussion on copyright limitations and exceptions. Jamie

KEI supports the proposal by Brazil, Chile, Nicaragua and Uruguay for a SCCR work program on L&E, including information gathering, analysis and norm setting.

KEI supports the proposal for a survey on L&E.

In terms of studies, KEI agrees with CI that WIPO should undertake studies related to distance education and innovative services to complete the other WIPO studies.

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SCCR 17, day two, Judith Sullivan and WBU workshop

It is Tuesday, November 4, 2008, and the WIPO SCCR will hear from Judith Sullivan on copyright limitations and exceptions for the blind.

Judith Sullivan begins with a formal presentation of her February 2007 WIPO Study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for the Visually Impaired (SCCR/15/7). The presentation was quite good, and helpful, and followed the slides that WIPO has on its web page.

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WIPO SCCR/17 day one, on copyright L&E

I’m in Geneva at WIPO for the 17th SCCR meeting. The first two days have presentations of four WIPO studies of copyright limitations and exceptions. Each study gets a half day. The first presentation was by Sam Ricketson.

WIPO Study on Limitations and Exceptions of Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Environment, (SCCR/9/7), April 5, 2003. prepared by Mr. Sam Ricketson, Professor of Law, University of Melbourne and Barrister, Victoria, Australia

The Ricketson presentation was very clear.

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WIPO: Under Siege?

Walking around the marbled corridors of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) during its 43rd General Assembly, one cannot help but feel a palpable sense of an Organization under siege. Heightened security detail, ostensibly for the protection of the institution and the assembled delegates, was referred by one insider as justification for WIPO maintaining the current levels for patent filing fees.

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WIPO General Assembly 2007 document: Brief note on allegations against the Organization and its Director General

The outgoing General Assembly Chair, Enrique Manalo (Ambassador, Philippines) commenced the 43th session of the WIPO General Assembly at 10:23 AM (Central European Time). Ambassador Manalo highlighted the success of Development Agenda negotiations as a hallmark of his tenure as Chair over the course of 2 years.

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KEI Statement on breakdown of Broadcast Treaty negotiation

"Today the WIPO SCCR decided against scheduling a diplomatic conference to create a new treaty on broadcasting, and set a high bar for doing so.  Technically, the subject of the Broadcasting Treaty will continue to be on the agenda of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, but with a fairly tough hurdle before it can move to a diplomatic conference —  after there is agreement on the objectives, scope and object of protection, topics for which there is no agreement in sight.

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US del clarifies (sort of) position on “by any means”

This is technical. The United States delegation says

“US did oppose deletion of “by any means” so that simultaneous retransmission of traditional broadcasts on the internet is covered…..but we never spoke on deferred retransmissions last night.”

However, in the texts that have been made public, the “by any means” applies to both cases. The negotiations are now being held in secret.

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