LCA Submits Statement to WIPO in Support of Non-Paper
On June 20, 2011, the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) submitted a statement to WIPO in support of the work of the Member States who have met in consultations to create a non-paper acknowledging the importance of an international legal instrument to increase access to information for persons with visual impairment or print disabilities. Read Statement

LCA Submits Comments to WIPO on Draft Articles Related to Protecting Traditional Cultural Expressions
On March 21, 2011, the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) submitted comments to WIPO in regard to the February 18, 2011, draft articles on protecting traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). Members of LCA believe that the current draft exhibits many of the same problems as earlier drafts, in particular the broad range of expression covered by the draft instrument. Read Comments

LCA Submits Comments to WIPO Committee on Protecting Traditional Cultural Expressions
On July 22, 2010, the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) submitted comments to WIPO in regard to establishing a WIPO tready to protect traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). Members of LCA believe such a treaty would have a negative impact on the public domain, intellectual freedom, access to information held in library collections, and our ability to meet the educational and research needs of the communities we serve. Read Comments: English Read Comments: Spanish

LCA and eIFL Submit Statements to WIPO Committee on Development and Intellectual Property
On April 26, 2010, the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) and Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL) submitted statements to WIPO in regard to the Director General's report and the Development Agenda. Read eIFL Statement [PDF] Read LCA Statement [PDF]

LCA Submits Comments to WIPO on Facilitating Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind or Other Persons with Disabilities at SCCR 19
December 17, 2009, Janice Pilch, on behalf of the Library Copyright Alliance, submitted comments to the WIPO standing committee on copyright and related rights in regard to access for the visually impaired and other persons with disabilities. Read Comments [PDF]

U.S. Delegation to WIPO Submit Statement on Facilitating Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind or Other Persons with Disabilities at SCCR 19
December 15, 2009, The U.S. delegation to the World Intellectual Property Organization made a statement expressing commitment to balanced international copyright law, including support for limitations and exceptions to copyright law, and its willingness to work with the international copyright community on international norms to ensure improved access to information for the visually impaired around the world. Read Statement

LCA Submits Reply Comments on Facilitating Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind or Other Persons with Disabilities
On December 4, 2009, the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) - a coalition made up of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Association of of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) - joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) in submitting reply comments to the Copyright Office on the topic of facilitating access to copyrighted works for the blind or other persons with disabilities. Read Reply Comments [PDF]

LCA Comments on Facilitating Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind or Other Persons with Disabilities
On November 13, 2009, Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) - a coalition made up of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Association of of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) - joined the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) in submitting comments to the Copyright Office on the topic of facilitating access to copyrighted works for the blind or other persons with disabilities. Read Comments [PDF]

LCA Submits Statement of Principles to WIPO
On May 25, 2009, the Library Copyright Association, the Electronic Information for Libraries, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions submitted a Statement of Principles on copyright limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives to the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights in Geneva. Read statement [PDF]

Joint Statement by Non-Governmental Civil Society and Technology Organizations to WIPO, November 2008
Joint Statement of Certain Non-Governmental Civil Society and Technology Organizations on Copyright Limitations and Exception at the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, Seventeenth Session (Geneva, November 3-7, 2008) supporting limitations and exceptions to copyright for the benefit of the world’s visually impaired community, for libraries and archives, for education of the world’s citizens, and for the development and delivery of innovative information services across national borders. Read statement [PDF]

Joint Statement to WIPO on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries, November 2008
Joint Statement of the Library Copyright Alliance, the International Federation of Library Associations, and Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net) Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries at the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, Seventeenth Session (Geneva, November 3-7, 2008), including recommendations on copyright exceptions for preservation, interlibrary loan, research and education, and provisions for people with disabilities. Read statement [PDF]

LCA Statement to WIPO Addressing Digital Preservation and Copyright, September 2008
Statement of Library Copyright Alliance to the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO (Geneva, September 22-30, 2008) addressing the value of the recent preservation International Workshop on Digital Preservation and Copyright in July and studies commissioned by WIPO on expert studies on limitations and exceptions in the digital environment for the visually impaired, and for libraries and archives; and a study on educational activities including distance education. Read statement [PDF]

Joint Statement on Statement to WIPO on Outreach needs of Developing Countries, July 2008
Joint Statement of International Federation of Library Associations and Library Copyright Alliance to the WIPO Committee on Development and Intellectual Property, Second Session (Geneva, 7-11 July 2008) addressing the proposals on public awareness, education, training and outreach needs of developing countries and least developed countries. Read statement [PDF]

LCA Statement to WIPO on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, July 2008
Statement of Library Copyright Alliance to WIPO Committee on Development and Intellectual Property, Second Session (Geneva, 7-11 July 2008) encouraging Member States to involve the international library community in local efforts at technical assistance and capacity building, which will serve to promote the goals of information access and a balanced approach to intellectual property protection. Read statement [PDF]

Joint Comments Provided on the WIPO Development Agenda
On September 28, 2007, LCA, in collaboration with the International Federation of Library Associations, provided joint comments on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda. Reinforcing multiple issues of prime importance to libraries, the comments were distributed in print form as well as provided to WIPO administration for placement in the official meeting records during the September 24 – October 3 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Read Joint Comments [PDF]

Joint Paper on the WIPO Development Agenda
On June 12, 2007, a joint paper from the Library Copyright Alliance, the International Federation of Library Associations, and the Electronic Information for Libraries was distributed setting out the Library position on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda. The joint paper, titled "A Development Agenda for WIPO: Why Libraries Care," was distributed to the Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda, Fourth Session, in Geneva from 11-15 June, 2007. Read Joint Paper [PDF]

LCA’s Concerns with the WIPO Broadcast Treaty
In May 2007, during Senate visits, the LCA discussed the U.S. libraries’ position that there is no compelling public policy reason for the broadcast treaty, given the existence of the Rome Convention and the absence of any evidence of harm suffered by broadcasters. Read More [PDF]

LCA Makes Statements at WIPO meeting in Geneva
In February 2007, The Library Copyright Alliance released two statements regarding current the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meeting of Provisional Committee on the Development Agenda. The February 20, 2007 statement [PDF] addresses four points that relate directly to how WIPO should refine and implement the proposals under consideration for facilitating a development agenda. The February 21, 2007 statement [PDF] speaks specifically about electronic information for libraries and widespread access to the information, and addresses specific sections of various proposals.

LCA Requests Hearings on U.S. Government’s Negotiation Position on Broadcast Treaty
On October 18, 2005, the Library Copyright Alliance delivered letters to Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Patrick Leahy, Representative Howard Berman, and Representative Lamar Smith. The letters request that hearings be held concerning the negotiating position of the U.S. government with respect to the Broadcast Treaty. For several years, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Copyright Office have been participating in discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) concerning a proposed Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations. The WIPO General Assembly recently decided to attempt to convene a diplomatic conference to finalize the Broadcast Treaty in late 2006 or early 2007. Read the Berman Letter [PDF], Hatch Letter [PDF], Leahy Letter [PDF], Smith Letter [PDF]