The international Publishers Association has contributed 1,000CHF to kickstart an international appeal for support as the lockdown in Bangladesh puts the legacy Faisal Arefin Dipan at risk. His widow, Razia Rahman Joly, carried on his publishing house and opened a bookshop, Dipanpur, in his memory. 3 months of lockdown and no income mean eviction and closure are now looming.
Nielsen Book has been commissioned to undertake an industry-wide survey to investigate the international landscape and perception of book prizes across publishing, bookselling, writing, media and academic sectors in various countries. The research is being supported by the International Publishers Association, Frankfurt Book Fair, Publishing Perspectives and Agile Ideas.
Despite many countries being in lockdown for a number of weeks to limit the spreading of the COVID-19 Pandemic, governments in Brazil, China, Kenya, India to name but a few have continued to publish consultations on copyright. IPA has continued to monitor and respond.
In South Africa, the defective copyright amendment bill (as well as the performers’ protection bill) has been referred back to the National Assembly by President Ramaphosa.
Close scrutiny showed a more complex but also more positive answer for both the UK and US.
IPA D&I envoy, Michiel Kolman interviews Elsevier’s Simon Holt and Springer Nature’s Kirsty Bone about their experiences of having a disability and working in the publishing industry. This is a long but fascinating read.
October and the first days of November were again very busy, with visits to four different countries and three book fairs in the course of three weeks.
SCCR 39 concluded this evening with an agreement found on how to keep the Exceptions and Limitations discussion moving forward and the other agenda items wrapped up and a possible new issue raised in the chamber.