Teresa Hackett, EIFL’s Copyright and Libraries Programme Manager will participate in the 36th session of WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) that takes place in Geneva from 28 May to 1 June 2018.

For libraries the main focus of this session is discussion, and hopefully agreement, on an action plan on limitations and exceptions for the biennium 2018-2019 (member states were unable to reach agreement on an action plan at the last session in November 2017).

During the meeting, EIFL will present its views on the new Draft Action Plan prepared by the Chair of SCCR, Mr Daren Tang, Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. The draft plan includes several concrete deliverables including a proposal to hold regional seminars and an international conference on limitations and exceptions for libraries, archives, and museums, as well as educational and research institutions.

After more than six years on the agenda at SCCR, and a lot of work already done on limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives, we need to keep moving forward and making progress so that the copyright system works for libraries supporting education, research and community development.

EIFL will also press the need for robust limitations and exceptions in the proposed treaty for the protection of broadcast organizations.

During the week, several related events are planned on the sidelines of the meeting. EIFL will attend a lunch-time event organized by Education International, the global federation of education unions, co-sponsored by the Indonesian Delegation to WIPO, on how WIPO can contribute to achieving the Right to Education.

We will also participate in a consultation meeting organized by WIPO to answer questions on the draft Good Practice Toolkit for Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) being developed by WIPO. EIFL has submitted comments on the draft Toolkit.

Throughout the week, EIFL will work closely with our international library, archive and museum colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for our communities, and we will take the opportunity to discuss library copyright issues with government delegates from EIFL partner countries.

Here is a look-back at what happened at SCCR/35.