I am representing IP Justice, an international advocacy organization on internet regulation and digital governance. I urge the delegates to reject the WIPO Broadcast Treaty and adopt Limitations and Exceptions provisions.
Imagine when big broadcasting companies own the learning materials in school, and that broadcaster will own the contents created by artists. The Broadcast Treaty creates new economic rights in broadcasting companies that never existed before in copyright, so they can control the public’s access to knowledge. The Limitations and Exceptions provisions grant exceptions to libraries, museums, and schools.
Securing access to knowledge has never been more critical during and after the pandemic, because more and more educational materials rely on broadcasting companies’ transmission. Yet, the companies and countries that monopolize broadcasting materials are trying to take advantage of this transformation.
I propose that WIPO will not consider any more broadcast treaties, so we can save time and energy to do what matters: increasing internet coverage and access to information. And this is how our community shows resilience: by putting the public goods before private gains.