WIPO held a workshop on digital preservation and copyright in July 2008, to draw attention to the critical need for digital preservation and the ways in which copyright issues that arise in a preservation context might be addressed. The workshop brought together librarians, digital preservationists and copyright experts from around the world to address the intersection of copyright laws and digital preservation. Panel discussions focused on preservation activities in three areas: e-journals, the Internet and newspapers. The International Study on the Impact of Copyright Law on Digital Preservation, an independent report which focuses on the copyright and related laws of Australia, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S., served as a backdrop for the discussions.

The workshop highlighted different preservation projects around the world and the ways in which they address copyright concerns. Some simply focus on public domain materials to avoid copyright problems. Others such as the Internet Archive take advantage of existing exceptions like fair use. Still others such as Portico and Koninklikje Bibliotheek’s e-Depot rely on cooperative arrangements with rights holders. These preservation programs are quite valuable: they not only save important cultural material but also lay the groundwork for developing digital preservation best practices.

The workshop offered an opportunity to examine how digital preservation and copyright issues are being addressed in various jurisdictions and in relation to different types of content, (e.g. newspapers, images and web-based materials). It showcased how preserved works are made accessible to the public; how to balance the interests of both users and right holders; the main challenges of digital preservation; processes involved in “clearing” rights for newspapers/images; and the challenges involved in content harvesting undertaken by preservation institutions.

Future WIPO activities on copyright and digital preservation will be reported on this page.

Meetings

Presentations