The World Intellectual Property Organization Assemblies took place in Geneva and online from 14 to 22 July. Member States brought years of negotiations on two issues closer to resolution with agreement on two Diplomatic Conferences. The Assemblies also included a side event on the Marrakesh Treaty.
At the International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities on 21-22 June, IPA Secretary General, José Borghino, gave a keynote speech entitled ‘Publishing as Essential, Critical Infrastructure, or Who’s Afraid of AI?’
On June 22, the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice decided in favour of copyright owners, in a lawsuit brought by over 80 publishers, music and film producers, as well as collective management associations against the Mexican law on libraries, which allowed libraries to lend and make available digital copies of books and other copyrighted works obtained through the obligation of legal deposit. The law further required publishers to deposit books in formats that would allow libraries to provide such accesses to users and prevented copyright owners from protecting their works with technological protection measures.
On 31 May, Previous IPA President, Hugo Setzer, spoke at a hybrid conference organized by the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Ottawa, Canada. Entitled ‘The Future of Copyright in Canada’ the conference focused on the ongoing fall out from the 2012 amendments to the Canadian Copyright Act.
On April 8 the Canadian government tabled it’s Budget 2022 report, which confirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring that the Copyright Act protects all creators and copyright holders, acknowledges the importance of creating the conditions to ensure a sustainable educational publishing industry, including fair remuneration for rightsholders.
The 2022 Charles Clark Memorial Lecture was the closing event at this year’s altered but well-attended London Book Fair at Olympia London. The annual Memorial Lecture, and Book Fair highlight, celebrates and remembers the achievements of Charles Clark who was a publisher, lawyer, and eminent authority on copyright law.
The International Publishers Association (IPA) has released a report following its two-year investigation to gauge the effects of Covid-19 on global publishing and to map pathways to a more resilient, future-ready book sector.
Professor Mark D. Cole of the University of Luxembourg will deliver the 2022 Charles Clark Memorial Lecture under the title The answer to platform regulation is in the regulation of platforms. The lecture will be held at London Book Fair on Thursday 7 April at 3pm.
