Updates
in cra-briefings30 · October 15, 2005
PROJECTS TO CATALOGUE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
There is great concern being expressed internationally over the state of traditional knowledge (TK), including a fear that it is being lost over time. There is also recognition that TK continues to be exploited improperly. This concern is particularly prevalent with respect to patents, where traditional knowledge in the form of medicines, treatments and cures has been patented by large companies and removed from the public domain. In response, and as a means of tracking traditional knowledge, several groups have commenced projects to catalogue traditional knowledge. Projects are occurring through WIPO www.wipo.int/tk/en and the American Association for the Advancement of Science http://shr.aaas.org/tek.
ACCESS COPYRIGHT SIGNS FIRST DIGITAL BILATERAL AGREEMENT
In its August newsletter to creator affiliates Access Copyright announced that it had signed the first international digital bilateral agreement with its American counterpart the Copyright Clearance Center. The agreement will allow Access Copyright to offer a digital add-on to its comprehensive photocopying licensees in the corporate, non-profit and government sectors.
These new licenses will allow users to convert legally obtained print documents into digital files, print from digital sources, scan, fax and e-mail digital works as well as post material to their intranets (but not the Internet). The license is inclusions-based, meaning that it only covers the works of copyright owners who have specifically assigned their digital rights to Access Copyright—approximately 220,000 works to date. It also means that only those creators who have assigned these digital rights will receive the additional royalties from the license. For more information see www.accesscopyright.ca
WIPO STANDING COMMITTEE ON COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS
Further to its meetings in November 2004, WIPO has engaged in an international consulting process regarding the impact of copyright and related rights in the broadcasting sector. This consultation process has been ongoing and the next meeting of the standing committee on copyright and related rights has not been scheduled. For information on WIPO’s meeting schedule please visit: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=15