Last week, Creative Commons (CC) participated in the 45th session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). In this post, we briefly report on the session discussions on exceptions and limitations for cultural heritage institutions (CHIs), a topic of utmost relevance to our Open Culture Program. 

As in previous SCCR sessions, our main objective was to drive copyright reform towards better sharing of heritage materials in the interest of the public and in tune with the sharing possibilities of the digital environment. For more details check out our official statement and watch our intervention on the WIPO webcast. 

Overall, we welcome the session outcomes. However, protracted discussions on the various versions of the implementation plan for the Work Program on Limitations and Exceptions (SCCR/45/6 and SCCR/43/8 REV.), which aim to determine a clear path forward in the negotiations, meant that substantive discussions could not take place. We look forward to engaging with the future Draft Implementation Plan on the Work Program on Limitations and Exceptions (SCCR/45/10 PROV.) and to bringing our expertise on copyright in the public interest to the discussions on objectives, principles, and options.

Limitations and exceptions for CHIs were not the only issue on the Committee’s agenda. Other key items included the protection of broadcasting organizations (read Communia’s take on this topic), other exceptions and limitations such as for educational and research institutions and for people with disabilities, copyright issues in the digital environment, as well as the interplay between generative artificial Intelligence (AI) and copyright, among others. 

You can read more about the meeting outcomes in the Summary by the Chair.

We look forward to participating in the Committee’s next session to contribute to creating a fairer and more balanced international copyright system in the public interest.