Libraries, Groups Welcome WIPO Copyright Appointment, With Hope

A range of highly active groups at the World Intellectual Property Organization representing libraries, museums, archives, and digital civil liberties this week welcomed the appointment of a copyright industry lobbyist to lead WIPO copyright and culture issues. But they voiced their hope that the appointee, Sylvie Forbin of France, will quickly show leadership on the promotion and support of the cultural heritage sector as it relates to copyright.

Forbin was named earlier this month by WIPO Director General Francis Gurry as the next deputy director general for the Copyright and Creative Industries Sector. A special session of the member-state Coordination Committee is scheduled for 12 September to initially approve the nomination, after which it will go before the full membership at the annual WIPO General Assembly in early October (IPW, WIPO, 14 July 2016).

The civil society joint statement [pdf], dated 26 July, said Forbin’s background indicates she will bring “valuable experience of government and business to her new role.”

However, it notes that the WIPO section she’ll be leading has been renamed, dropping “Culture” from the title in favour of “Copyright.” (Note: at WIPO, there are four deputies under the director.)

“We trust that her leadership will prove that this does not indicate a change of emphasis by WIPO away from the promotion of and support for the needs of the cultural heritage sector in relation to copyright,” they said. “We look forward to briefing Ms Forbin on the vibrant and welcome contribution of civil society to WIPO’s work on copyright and related rights, bringing the voice of those who utilise and consume culture and knowledge into the discussion.”

“Within civil society, we should not forget, are the creators, scholars and scientists of today and tomorrow,” they said.

“An immediate challenge,” they said, “will be to demonstrate quickly to Member States and all copyright stakeholders that in her new role, Ms Forbin will be taking a carefully balanced approach to benefit the public interest, taking account of the needs of rightsholders, users, research and education, thus reflecting the goals of copyright itself.”

The signers include:

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
International Council on Archives (ICA)
International Council of Museums (ICOM)
European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA)
Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA)
Scottish Council on Archives (SCA)
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
Karisma Foundation
Innovarte

 

Image Credits: WIPO Flickr CC