[A2k] RE: Library Copyright Alliance Intervention at PCDA Meeting in Geneva

[Robert Oakley]

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Below is the intervention made by the Library Copyright Alliance in Geneva =
this morning.


Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda

Fourth Session



Intervention by the Library Copyright Alliance

June 2007



Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to address the Assembly.  I am =
speaking today on behalf of the Library Copyright Alliance, representing fi=
ve major library associations of the United States.



Before beginning, Mr. Chairman, we would like to congratulate you on your r=
e-election and wish you every success in your endeavors.  We appreciate the=
 opportunity to continue to work with you in the coming months.



Mr. Chairman, the Library Copyright Alliance believes that libraries, like =
the copyright system itself, are an engine of progress.  Libraries improve =
the efficiency of the distribution mechanism for access to information.  Be=
cause they provide a mechanism for the sharing of information, they make it=
 possible to deliver more information to more people than would otherwise b=
e possible.  Similarly, because libraries aggregate resources for the purch=
ase of information, they also create more opportunities for the sales of mo=
re content than would be the case if such sales were dependent upon  indivi=
duals.  Because of this symbiotic relationship between content owners and l=
ibraries, it is in the best interests of citizens of every country and the =
copyright industries alike for there to be reasonable accommodations to mee=
t the needs of libraries and their users.



In particular, libraries support a robust and growing public domain;



They support the preservation of the cultural heritage of our countries



And they support the sharing of information in ways that do not prejudice t=
he rights of the copyright owners.



Last week, Mr. Bill Gates addressed the graduating class at Harvard.  Accor=
ding to the Wall Street Journal, he said:

Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries - but in how those =
discoveries are applied to reduce inequity.  Whether through democracy, str=
ong public education, quality health care or broad economic opportunity - r=
educing inequity is the highest human achievement. (WSJ June 8, 2007, p.1)



We believe that Mr. Gates' statement captures much of the spirit of what li=
braries are all about, and we hope that this organization will work to find=
 appropriate ways to support libraries to eliminate the inequities that exi=
st in the availability of information and the access to knowledge.



Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to address the Assembly today.



Robert L. Oakley

June 12, 2007



Robert L. Oakley
Director of the Law Library
  and Professor of Law
Georgetown University Law Library
111 G St., NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-662-9160



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