The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is currently considering an international treaty that would extend the power that broadcasters have to control how we use and record images and sounds, including material in the public domain. This treaty will trade off the public's freedom for additional powers that the broadcasters have not demonstrated are necessary for the public good. Our position is that the treaty should be rejected.
- For recent coverage and analysis of the treaty go here.
The Union for the Public Domain sent a delegation of four to the June 7-9th WIPO meeting on the treaty, and we have complete coverage here, including some short running commentary for Days 1, 2, and 3.
Prior to the meeting we asked volunteers to administer a survey to their national governments, but we found that most governments wouldn't publicise their positions on the treaty until the WIPO meeting. You can find a lot of information on national positions in the annotated transcript we co-produced with EFF.
If you would like to volunteer to protect the public domain from this treaty, do e-mail us. To keep up-to-date on the treaty, sign up for our low-traffic e-mail list.
