[A2k] Senegal,UK,Canada, USA and Australia on broadcasting from first WIPO SCCR-1998

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
The first meeting of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and
Related Rights  took place in November 1998.

http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=914

--------


180. The Delegation of Senegal stated that its Government was working
seriously to improve  the conditions of broadcasters and it
participated in a regional committee of reflection which  was
collecting their views.  The African Group was ready to cooperate on
securing a better  protection for broadcasters.  Speaking as the
Chairperson of the African Group of the  International Confederation
of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) the delegate  expressed
the hope that also broadcasters would strengthen their cooperation
with collective  management organizations by fulfilling their
obligations as users of the protected repertoire.

181. The Delegation of the United Kingdom agreed that work on the
issue should continue  with the aim of updating and adapting the Rome
Convention protection in the light of the  technological development.
Many countries already granted a stronger protection than the Rome
Convention, and among the rights that should be granted were a
comprehensive reproduction right and appropriate rights regarding
satellite broadcasting and cable retransmission.  The Delegation
suggested that forthcoming discussions should be based on
submissions from governments.

182. The Delegation of Canada referred to the room document from
broadcasting unions and associations and stated that its Government
had not yet reached a position regarding the  protection in relation
to redistribution in cable and community antennae systems and the
protection regarding end users, such as the use of radio or television
sets in public places.  In  this respect, it wished to consult its
national cable industry and representatives of end users.  The
Delegation pointed at the desirability of having the cable
distribution industry represented at meetings of the Standing
Committee.  It also mentioned that it might in some respects be
necessary to distinguish between free over-the-air broadcasts and pay
radio and television.

183. The Delegation of the United States of America pointed out that
broadcasters in its  country enjoyed substantial protection under
copyright and communication law.  At the  international level, piracy
and new technology made it necessary to look at the issue, and the
room documents were interesting and merited further examination.  The
Delegation underlined  that progress on the protection of audiovisual
performers should not be held up by this new issue.

184. The Delegation of Australia supported further work on the
question of improving the  rights of broadcasters internationally.  A
strong protection was granted in its country, but  signal piracy had
not been raised as a major problem.  New technology, however, could
change  that situation.  The Delegation reserved the possibility to
regulate in national law certain cable  retransmissions in urban and
remote areas.  It supported the suggestions that work should  continue
in WIPO, based on government submissions.

------------------------------------------------------------


Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997