Public Policy Connections

European Commission Wants 7-Year Limit on Works Digitized by Google

On January 10, 2010, the European Commission released a report on Europeana, the E.U.’s digital library project, that made a number of recommendations designed to strengthen and grow the project with an eye towards creating a single public portal through which users could access Europe’s cultural heritage in a digital format. 

Specifically, the report called  for a more than 50% reduction in the duration of the exclusivity deals that Google signs with libraries, from 15 years to 7 years.  Among other recommendations, the report states that members states must considerably increase funding for digitization in order to make the Europeana portal the “central reference point for Europe’s online cultural heritage, that rules for “orphan works” must be finalized quickly, and that “cultural institutions must have a window of opportunity to digitize material and make it available to the public” with renumeration for rights holders.

Read more: Open Book Alliance article EC Digitization Report: Stronger Rules for Google Books

Read more: New York Times article  Brussels Wants 7-Year Limit on Works Digitized by Google  

European Commission to Ask for Public Input on Net Neutrality

Speaking at a conference held by French telecoms regulator ARCEP, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, said the Internet is "not an inherently neutral platform."This means that European regulators have to make choices about whether to allow ISPs to prioritize certain types of online traffic. The European Commission will ask the public for their thoughts on Net neutrality in the upcoming months.

"Net neutrality is a subject that stirs emotions," Kroes said, adding that the debate had seen people voice fears over government censorship and the increasing commercialization of the Web.

The U.S. is addressing the same types of Net Neutrality issues. In early April, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled that regulators had limited power over Web traffic under current law. Argued on 8 January 2010, the ruling on the Comcast vs. the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will allow Internet service companies to block or slow specific sites and charge video sites to deliver faster content to users.

Read article on ZDNet UK: Internet is 'not inherently neutral,' says EU's Kroes

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

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

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

The German Digital Library in Competition with Google?

The German Digital Library wants to make millions of books, films, images and audio recordings accessible online. More than 30,000 libraries, museums and archives are expected to contribute their digitized cultural artifacts. The idea, in part, is to compete with Google Books. But will it work?

Read news story: A German Library for the 21st Century

What Happens Inside the U.K.'s National Archives?

The United Kinddom's National Archives Chief executive Natalie Ceeney gave the BBC a rare tour behind the scenes of the National Archives - including both highlights of the past and plans for the future.

View three-minute BBC Video: What Happens Inside the National Archives?

UK's Digital Economy Bill Criticized by Those Favoring Balanced Copyright Reform

Lord Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom's first Secretary of State, has introduced a Digital Economy Bill that would give him (and future politicians) the power to rewrite Britain's core copyright legislation with little Parliamentary debate, using fast-track secondary legislation. The UK Labour administration is said to be impatient to pass its Digital Economy agenda. Critics say puts at risk more balanced, deliberate reform of copyright law.

Read:  EFF Action Alert

Read: UK Digital Economy Bill

Read News Story: The Inquirer

European Commission Adopts Communication on Copyright

The European Commission adopted a Communication on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy aiming to tackle the important cultural and legal challenges of mass-scale digitization and dissemination of books, in particular of European library collections. Digital libraries, such as Europeana, will provide researchers and consumers across Europe with new ways to gain access to knowledge. For this, however, the EU will need to find a solution for orphan works, whose uncertain copyright status means they often cannot be digitized. Improving the distribution and availability of works for persons with disabilities, particularly the visually impaired, is another cornerstone of the Communication.

Read: Press Release
Read: Citizens' Summary
Read: Communication on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy

Deadline Set for Revised Google Book Settlement

In the October 7, 2009 Court Hearing in Google Book Settlement Case, Federal Judge Danny Chin set November 9, 2009 as the date by which Google and its partners must submit a revised settlement for the court’s preliminary approval.

Many believe the revised settlement must be subject to full review and scrutiny by the vast array of stakeholders -- authors, academics, consumer advocates, privacy groups, libraries, and others -- who have spoken out. The Open Book Alliance, of which SLA is a member, issued statement from co-founder Peter Brantley in response to the U.S. District Court hearing on the Google Book Settlement case.

Read: Open Book Alliance Statement

Read news story: Judge Sets Nov. 9 Deadline For Revised Google Book Settlement

Read news story: Google Books court saga continues

Read news story: Google Gets Until Nov. 9 to Revise Book Pact