[A2k] PCDA/3 IFLA/eIFL first statement

[Teresa Hackett (eIFL)]

Here is the translation of our statement which was delivered in Russian.
We have discovered that there are major problems with interpretation
Russian-English-Russian ;-( If anyone would like the Russian text,
please contact me.

Teresa
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IFLA: International Federation of Library Associations

EIFL: Electronic Information for Libraries

Provisional Committee on Proposals Related
to a WIPO Development Agenda
Third Session, Geneva, February 19-23, 2007

Mr Chairman, this is a joint intervention by IFLA: the International
Federation of Library Associations, which represents the global library
community in 150 countries and eIFL: Electronic Information for
Libraries which works in developing and transition countries. We both
congratulate you and the Vice-Chair on your election.

We wish to highlight two points from Annex A.

The first is the Public Domain (Proposals 17 and 32)

This is important to libraries because it provides a fertile source of
content for users and for creators from which they can build new works.
In line with the principle expressed in Proposal 17 we believe that WIPO
should take a much more pro-active role in its legislative advice and
training to promote the public domain. It is important, however, that
the Development Agenda is translated in actions. The adoption of
Proposal 32 would take forward this principle by implementing Chile=92s
proposal made at PCDA/1 for a study which analyses the benefits of the
public domain.

The second concerns the wider participation of civil society and public
interest groups in WIPO=92s activities (Proposal 38)

This Proposal is about deepening public interest NGO participation in
WIPO=92s activities in a meaningful way.  It is not just about attending
meetings in Geneva. In our view Proposal 38 should be implemented by
involving public interest stakeholders to the same extent as rightholder
interests in the planning and delivery of training programmes, regional
seminars and joint publications.

We have become aware of WIPO organised events which are of direct
concern to libraries but where the international library community was
not consulted. The most recent example is the WIPO Asia-Pacific Regional
Symposium entitled  =93Emerging Issues of Copyright and Related Rights in
the Library Sector=94 which took place last week in Laos.  We are WIPO
accredited international library NGOs actively involved in the
Development Agenda process and the work of SCCR. We could have
contributed knowledge and expertise for the benefit of member states,
and enriched the programme with library speakers of international
standing, yet that potential is being ignored.  This is an example of
how Proposal 38 should be put into practice.

Thank you for your attention.

Contacts:
IFLA: Barbara Stratton Barbara.Stratton@cilip.org.uk
EIFL: Teresa Hackett Teresa.Hackett@eifl.net & Iryna Kuchma
kuchma@irf.kiev.ua