Public Policy Connections

IFLA Issues Position Statement on ACTA

On 26 March 2010, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) issued a position statement on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The statement urges a robust and open debate—a debate which would require that the provisions of ACTA be disclosed and that its negotiation process be openly conducted within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The ACTA treaty allows for criminal sanctions against non-commercial file-sharers, demands border-searches of laptop hard-drives and personal devices for pirated material, requires ISPs to spy on their users, and gives movie and record companies the right to take whole households off the Internet with unsubstantiated allegations of piracy. Organization around the world, including SLA, are concerned by the extreme secrecy surrounding the ACTA negotiations and the complete lack of transparency related to ACTA's procedures, provisions, and priorities.

Read IFLA Position Statement on ACTA

Organizations Support Faster FOIA Act

On 17 March 2010, numerous organizations, including SLA, signed a letter that was delivered to U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy and John Cornyn on the U.S. Judiciary Committee. The letter supports the Faster FOIA Act, which would establish the Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays. This advisory commission would be charged with recommending to Congress and the President steps that should be taken to reduce delays in the administration of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Read Letter.

Australia Clarifies ACTA Role

According to iTnews, the Australian Government has no intention of changing its domestic laws to harmonize with ACTA (Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement).  Questioned by iTnews on Australia's role in ACTA, the spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that negotiators are only participating in the talks in the hope that other parties to the agreement will meet existing Australian standards.   

Many organizations have fears that the ACTA will seek to introduce a global system of copyright protection that compels Internet Service Providers to take responsibility for the actions of their subscribers -- to the extent of cutting them off after three warnings.

Read iTnews: Australia comes clean on ACTA role 

Organizations Request Hearings on Destruction of DOJ Emails

On 10 March 2010, numerous organizations, including SLA, signed a letter that was faxed to the Ranking Members and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The letter requests that hearings are held on the apparent unlawful destruction of e-mails in the Department of Justice (DOJ). The disappearance of DOJ emails, that are required to be saved under Federal Records Act (FRA) raises serious concerns about government transparency and raises questions about whether the information needed to hold the government accountable is being destroyed before officials, Congress, and the public can have access to the information.

Read Letter.

Read Washington Post article:  Inquiry sought into disappearance of e-mails in interrogations case.

EU Parliament Votes against ACTA; Threatens Legal Action

The European Parliament voted 663 to 13 against the secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The parliamentarians defied the EU executive and threatened to take the issue to the European Court of Justice if the EU doesn't reject ACTA's provisions on disconnection for infringement and other enforcement provisions.

The ACTA treaty allows for criminal sanctions against non-commercial file-sharers, demands border-searches of laptop hard-drives and personal devices for pirated material, requires ISPs to spy on their users, and gives movie and record companies the right to take whole households off the Internet with unsubstantiated allegations of piracy.

Read EurActive.com Article:  Parliament threatens court action on anti-piracy

U.S. Sunshine Week: Building Transparency Webcast

On Friday 19 March from noon to 2:00 p.m. (EDT), OpenTheGovernment.org and other organizations, including SLA, will present the 5th Annual Sunshine Week National Dialogue.

This year's event focuses on "Building Transparency" and is being held at the Center for American Progress. Individuals may participate in person at the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C., at a registered site, or online.

On his first full day in office, President Barack Obama committed his administration "to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government. "To help meet that goal, the administration has issued an Open Government Directive  and a new Memorandum on Freedom of Information Act and Attorney General Guidelines. The administration has also launched an expansive effort to open up data to developers, advocates, and the public through the Web site Data.gov.

To register for (or host) a local event, fill out the Registration Form and return by 12 March 2010. You can also reserve a seat at the Center for American Progress by emailing afuller@openthegovernment.org, or simply log-on to the URL available at www.openthegovernment.org to watch the live webcast.

Full Details:  Sunshine Week 2010 Webcast

Digital Copyright Issues: Course Begins 10 March 2010

Digital Copyright Issues (CCM 400) is the fourth of seven required courses for the SLA/Click University Certificate in Copyright Management: Principles and Issues.

At the end of this course, participants will understand how copyright protects and applies to digital works, and how to determine whether a digital work is protected by copyright. The participant will examine how existing laws (such as the U.S. Copyright Act, the WIPO copyright treaties, the DMCA and The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act) deal with digital copyright issues. The participant will differentiate between licenses and assignments of copyright, understand the general role of digital licenses and the role of a written Digital License Policy.

Register for Digital Copyright Issues (CCM 400). 

IMLS Creates Wiki on Future of Museums and Libraries: SLA Encourages Members to Participate

The U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has launched a wiki-based dialogue on the future of libraries and museums called UpNext.

Between now and 12 May, there will be nine discussions scheduled on such topics as Changing Definitions & Roles of Museums and Libraries, 21st Century Learning & Information Use, and Metrics for Evaluating Service and Impact.

IMLS states that it plans to use, “the knowledge shared in the wiki to help shape the agency’s strategic plan, research directions, publications, convenings, and grant making.”

SLA encourages members to look at the schedule of discussion topics below, monitor the discussions and participate in the wiki as much as possible. Additionally, bring the UpNext effort to the attention of SLA members who have expertise and interest in the topic areas. It is important that the perspectives of members of the special libraries community are well represented in these discussions.

Register as an UpNext wiki member. The Wiki has nine different topics to be discussed on the following schedule:

 3-16 March
1. Changing Definitions & Roles of Museums and Libraries 
2. Shifts in Power & Authority
3. Museums & Libraries as the “Third Place”

31 March - 13 April
5. 21st Century Learning & Information Use 
6. New Models & Structures for Collaboration

14 - 27 April
7. Planning for a Sustainable Future
8. Metrics for Evaluating Service & Impact

28 April - 12 May
9. The 21st Century Museum & Library Workforce
10. UpNext: Where Do We Go From Here?

19 May
Last official “Wiki Wednesday” IMLS will post wiki final summary.

U.K. Libraries and Universities Protest against Government Wi-Fi Plans

Libraries and universities in the United Kingdom are protesting a bill that would require organizations to police users of their wireless networks, reports the BBC. The U.K.'s Digital Economy Bill includes plans to make providers responsible for what is done over free Wi-Fi. The plans imply that libraries, universities and cafes offering free wireless will be responsible if people use it to pirate movies and music.

Read BBC News Article: Universities protest against government wi-fi plans

Leaked ACTA Draft Treaty Reveals Plans for Net Clampdown

According to an article released by the IGD News Service, the U.S., Europe and other countries are secretly drawing up rules designed to crack down on copyright abuse on the Internet, in part by making ISPs liable for illegal content. It is the latest in a series of leaks from the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) talks that have been going on for the past two years.

Several organizations, including SLA, sent a letter in November 2009 to President Obama expressing concerns about the lack of transparency and openness surrounding the negotiations on ACTA. The letter also points out that multiple aspects of ACTA fail to meet Open Government Initiative standards.

Read more:

New York Times: Leaked ACTA Draft Treaty Reveals Plans for Net Clampdown
Michael Geist Blog: Major ACTA Leak: Internet and Civil Enforcement Chapters With Country Positions
Knowledge Ecology International: KEI notes on the EU leak of the ACTA text
Ars Technica blog: New ACTA leak shows major resistance to US-style DRM rules
ZDNet UK: Europe 'will not accept' three strikes in ACTA Treaty