Rights of Broadcasters Top Agenda of SCCR

Geneva, May 11, 2001
Press Updates UPD/2001/131

In light of a growing piracy problem in many parts of the world, protection of the rights of broadcasting organizations topped the agenda of the fifth session of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), from May 7 to 11, 2001. Delegates reiterated their commitment to strengthen existing protection in view of transmissions using new technologies, including the Internet, cable and satellite television. The meeting was attended by delegates from 22 countries, the European Community, eight intergovernmental organizations and 31 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Organizations representing the broadcasters underlined that piracy - the unauthorized distribution of intercepted broadcasts or transmissions - is a growing problem in many countries. The Committee analyzed and discussed the issue with a view to clarifying the protection needed on the basis of the views of the different groups of stakeholders, including broadcasters, other right owners and the general public.

The SCCR decided to pursue these discussions at its next meeting in November 2001.

The Committee also briefly discussed the protection of so-called "non-original" databases. Collections of data, such a telephone books, that are not considered to be sufficiently original to qualify for copyright, may still require some protection because they can be very expensive to compile, yet easy to copy and disseminate, for example, over the Internet. The substantive work of the Committee on this issue depends on developments in national legislation and on the finalization of studies on the economic and social impact of such protection in developing and least-developed countries. Further discussion on databases would also take place next November.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

  • Tel: (+41 22) - 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
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  • Email: publicinf@wipo.int.