Documents - Page 24

On October 15, 2009, Janice Pilch authored an issue brief on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) – a proposed international agreement aimed at creating a stronger framework for global enforcement of intellectual property rights, with a scope covering counterfeit trademarked goods and infringing copyrighted works – and the concerns for libraries.

A proposed WIPO Treaty is aimed at providing a minimum standard for copyright laws internationally to ensure full and equal access to information for blind and other reading disabled persons. Copyright laws worldwide need to be changed to allow for full and equal access to copyrighted works. This means greater flexibility for creating affordable accessible works at the same time...

Libraries share a unique social responsibility for preservation of and access to the world’s intellectual heritage, they have an interest in promoting copyright laws that provide the broadest possible use of information for creativity, research and education. The Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) is working to address an increasing number of international legal and policy issues that affect libraries and the...

October 6, 2009 – The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries join a broad section of objectors, amici, and supporters of the Google Book Search Settlement to express shared concern that reader privacy be among the issues addressed in conjunction with the amended settlement.

September 28, 2009 – On behalf of the American Library Assocation, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries, Brandon Butler, Law and Policy Fellow at the Association of Research Libraries, outlines key information about the hundreds of filings that have been submitted to the federal district court presiding over the Google Book Settlement.

September, 8, 2009 – The American Library Association (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) submit a supplemental filing with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York overseeing the proposed Google Book Search settlement to address developments that have occurred since the groups submitted their filing on...

On August 3, 2009, the Library Copyright Alliance members joined the Organization for Transformative Works and the Right To Write Fund in filing an amici curiae brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reverse the Federal District Court’s ruling in Salinger v. Colting.

July 30, 2009 – The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries write to William Cavanaugh at the Department of Justice to follow-up on the May 27, 2009 meeting with Antitrust Division staff concerning the proposed settlement of the Google Library Project litigation.

The Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore is another focal point of the World Intellectual Property Organization. The IGC is charged with studying the policy positions of legal management and protection of certain cultural works created by indigenous communities. Should copyright law (or something like it) be used to protect these works? How does...

On July 14, 2009, members of the Library Copyright Alliance joined other interested organizations in voicing concerns to the United States Trade Representative in regard to the announced Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations.