The 33rd session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) takes place in Geneva from 14 - 18 November 2016.

Teresa Hackett, from EIFL's Copyright and Libraries Programme, will participate in the session when delegates from WIPO member states will discuss exceptions and limitations for libraries and archives (agenda item 6), among other topics.

For almost two years, member states at SCCR have been working their way through eleven topics related to libraries and archives including preservation, right of reproduction, cross-border uses, and orphan works.

At SCCR/33, it is expected that the focus will be on the final four topics: limitations on liability of libraries and archives; technological protection measures; contracts; translation.

Then delegates will need to consider how to advance the issue of limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives, taking into account the views of member states, facts presented by Professor Kenneth Crews in his updated study for WIPO on limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives, and evidence provided by library and archive groups in dozens of interventions.

Background

The Working Document on libraries and archives that contains proposals from all Member States (SCCR/26/3) is here.

Objectives and Principles for Exceptions and Limitations for libraries and Archives presented by the United States (SCCR/26/8) is here, and the most recent document - a Consolidation of Proposed Texts Contained in Document SCCR/26/3 prepared by African Group, Brazil, Ecuador, India and Uruguay is available here.

Read what happened at SCCR/32 in May 2016, and why EIFL is advocating for an international treaty for libraries and archives.