{"id":353,"date":"2018-01-17T17:44:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T16:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.ifla.org\/lpa\/?p=353"},"modified":"2018-01-18T10:40:38","modified_gmt":"2018-01-18T09:40:38","slug":"we-need-access-to-information-about-the-laws-that-affect-access-to-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ifla.org\/lpa\/2018\/01\/17\/we-need-access-to-information-about-the-laws-that-affect-access-to-information\/","title":{"rendered":"We need access to information\u2026 about the laws that affect access to information!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Copyright<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The way that copyright laws are written has a major impact on how people can access, apply, and create information. This access is not only a basic human right, but is essential to education, innovation and broader development. In the light of this, citizens and the libraries that serve them must have a say in how these laws are created.<\/p>\n

But libraries concerned about users\u2019 rights cannot only look at copyright laws. Trade deals increasingly influence laws by imposing one country\u2019s copyright rules on another. Too often this leads to backwards steps like unnecessary term extension, or the legal protection of digital rights management tools which prevent the enjoyment of exceptions. Too often, also, trade deals are negotiated in secrecy.<\/p>\n

Transparency in Trade Deals: the Brussels Declaration<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the 22 February 2016, IFLA therefore co-signed the Brussels declaration on trade and the internet<\/a>, a document that was endorsed by several organisations and individual experts. Nearly two years later, IFLA continues to urge decision-makers around the world to guarantee the transparency of negotiations on trade agreements.<\/p>\n

As shown in other decision-making processes, the voices of civil society organisation, the opinions of experts, add valuable knowledge that shouldn\u2019t be ignored. IFLA played an important role in the discussions at WIPO \u2013 which is comparably a very good performer on transparency \u2013 around the Marrakesh Treaty<\/a>. Without the input of organisations serving the interests of people with print disabilities, of libraries, and of publishers, the treaty wouldn\u2019t have met the needs of its beneficiaries as it can do now.<\/p>\n

Current Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Marrakesh represents a highlight, there are plenty of concerns. The European Union-Mercosur trade agreement is likely to carry extension of copyright terms or the adoption of rules that ban the circumvention of technological protection measures for Latin American countries[1]<\/a>. Without the adequate input and even open discussions that bring together all stakeholders, the outcome risks serving the interests of very few, and not a global perspective.<\/p>\n

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Asia, at least on the basis of years-old leaked negotiating drafts, could also be very negative for libraries and their users.<\/p>\n

Today, celebrating the copyright week 2018 around the topic of \u201ctransparency\u201d, we therefore wish to remind of what was agreed on, and still stands, in the signature of the Brussels Declaration:<\/p>\n