GENEVA - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states meeting under the auspices of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) met November 2-7 2008 to review a number of key copyright issues, a press release by WIPO stated.
Under the chairmanship of Jukka Liedes of Finland, the SCCR examined the current state of play WIPO’s work on limitations and exceptions, the protection of audiovisual performances and the protection of broadcasting organizations.
Discussions also featured the question of access to copyright-protected content by visually impaired persons.
A number of member states acknowledged the special needs of disabled persons (including the blind, visually impaired and other reading-disabled persons) and stressed the importance of addressing those needs.
The meeting also discussed the possible establishment of a stakeholders’ platform at WIPO, to facilitate secure access for disabled persons to copyright-protected works.
Delegates also discussed the status of negotiations on the protection of audiovisual performances. A diplomatic conference convened in 2000 which sought to update the rights of audiovisual performers at the international level concluded with no agreement.
The SCCR decided to continue discussions on the protection of broadcasting organizations with a view to concluding an international instrument. Progress has been made in boosting understanding of the various stakeholder positions.
However, further work is required to achieve agreement on the objectives, specific scope and object of protection of such an instrument before convening a diplomatic conference to conclude a treaty.
The SCCR agreed to continue its analysis of the matter and requested that an information meeting be organized during the SCCR’s next session in May 2009. This information session would focus on the current conditions within the broadcasting environment.
