A new statement from IFLA offers a set of core principles for copyright reform to guide and inspire reflection among libraries around the world. Additionally, a survey calls for inputs on how libraries are approaching copyright advocacy at national level, in order to inspire a new resource to help share good practice and build capacity.

Copyright issues have long had a central issue in IFLA’s advocacy work, reflecting its structuring impact not just on what libraries are able to do with their collections, but increasingly on how they build them in the first place.

We therefore engage in discussions taking place at the global level, in the context of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related rights, as well as at the regional, in the context of our engagement in the Knowledge Rights 21 Programme.

Yet ultimately, success in ensuring that libraries everywhere have the laws they need to support education, research and cultural will require change at the national level. Even when international law exists – such as the Marrakesh Treaty – there needs to be good national implementation.

IFLA therefore has an important role to play to support library associations, institutions and library and information workers from around the world to understand and engage in calling for positive copyright reforms.

In this context, we are happy to share one new resource – a statement on core principles around libraries and copyright – and to launch data collection for a new one, focused on understanding how library associations and wider fields engage around copyright. Both are led by IFLA’s Advisory Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM).

Core Principles on Libraries and Copyright

In order to provide a reference point for libraries looking to engage in copyright, we are happy to share a new statement which looks to set out, at a high-level, the core principles that guide our work around copyright.

This highlights the importance of copyright for libraries as an issue, and why balance and adaptation for the digital age are important. Crucially, it underlines that copyright laws should be an enabler, not a source of fear, and serve to support public policy goals such as education, research and cultural participation.

It then sets out a set of key areas where copyright laws need to be suitable – preservation, education and research access, remote access, out-of-commerce works, and flexibility to deal with new uses and technology.

Download the Statement

Finally, it makes practical suggestions on how to make sure that laws are effective and enforceable, notably in the face of contract terms, as well as concerns around liability. It also supports work outside of pure copyright law to ensure functional markets and ensure fair distribution of revenues to creators.

The statement is available as a reference point not only for CLM, but is intended also to be a reference point and conversation starter for associations and others. It of course also complements other IFLA work, notably around questions of lending, and access for persons with disabilities.

Gathering evidence on library field mobilisation around copyright

Building on work last year to understand how library associations and others are engaged in promoting intellectual freedom, we are happy to be launching a similar initiative to find out more about the different ways in which libraries engage on copyright.

The survey is primarily aimed at associations, but we also welcome responses from institutions, as well as more or less formal networks engaged around copyright issues. In particular, it asks about work around policy monitoring, problem-solving, training and guidance, advocacy, and partnerships with other actors.

Access the survey

We very much welcome responses by 28 May in order to help produce a document that, in turn, we hope can be a source of ideas and inspiration for libraries everywhere.