The end of 2020 brought good news on the copyright front. The 3rd Amendment of China’s Copyright Law was officially announced to be passed on November 11, coming into effect on June 1, 2021. China’s copyright review process started in 2011 and aimed to catch up with the impacts of technology in copyright-based industries’ business models.
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) awarded Jagriti Publishing House, Bangladesh, the 2020 AAP International Freedom to Publish | Jeri Laber Award. Given annually, the award recognizes a book publisher outside the United States who has demonstrated courage and fortitude in defending freedom of expression. In bestowing this award, AAP has long been guided by the principle that if one of us is denied the right to publish, that threat affects us all.
The first round of funding in IPA’s Africa Publishing Innovation Fund, backed by Dubai Cares, included support for Book Bunk, the regeneration project of the Macmillan Library and 2 in Nairobi, Kenya. The two co-founders, Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka, spoke recently to CC’s Beyond the Book.
On 27 November, IPA held the latest virtual Educational Publishers Forum, this time ‘in’ Lisbon with presentations about the situation in Portugal, a conversation with the Head of Education at Microsoft Ireland, and presentations on the European Accessibility Act and the possible impact of Brexit on publishers in the UK.
Michiel Kolman, Chair of the IPA's Inclusive Publishing and Literacy Committee, spoke to Jonathan Walker, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Association of American Publisher (AAP) about his work.
A calmer but still bustling Day 3 which was no less important for IPA with the announcement of the 2023 IPA Prix Voltaire shortlist and a vital session on ‘lawfair’ that stifles freedom of expression.
Day 1 of London Book Fair definitely went off with a bang for IPA. This year’s Fair has multiple stages with an excellent range of programming featuring a number of IPA members.
