LACA, the Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance (of which CILIP is a key 
member) is drafting a response and would welcome comments from CILIP 
members - post them on lis-cilip

Charles

Professor Charles Oppenheim
Department of Information Science
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leics LE11 3TU

Tel 01509-223065
Fax 01509-223053
e mail [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Royan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 12:01 PM
Subject: Gowers review of the UK Intellectual Property Framework


> Andrew Gowers has been commissioned by Government to carry out an
> independent review of the intellectual property, and Gowers has now issued 
> a
> Call for Evidence, which consists of a covering letter and an Issues 
> Paper:
> http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/97F/F4/gowers_callletter_230206.pdf
> http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/978/9B/gowers_callforevidence230206.pdf
>
> The closing date for submissions is Friday 21 April. Make no mistake, the
> powerful and well-funded lobby representing publishers and other
> rights-holders is likely to take this opportunity, and the excuses of
> globalization and technological change, to try to limit the activities of
> libraries still further. It is important that librarians and their
> representatives submit clear and well-argued evidence for freedom of
> information, open access and fair use.
>
> Much of the content of the Issues Paper relates to patents, trade marks 
> etc
> and seems of only peripheral interest to libraries, but Gowers expects to
> rule on a number of issues relating to our core business, including:
> -Extension of protection of sound recordings beyond 50 years
> -Possible changes to "fair dealing" exceptions
> -Extent to which Digital Rights Management technologies should be
> allowed to interfere with legitimate access and usage rights (fair use,
> interoperability, preservation, ultimate expiry of copyright term etc)
> -Permissions to use works whose rights owners cannot be traced
> ("Orphans")
>
> I have no doubt that CILIP will inform us that they are already on the 
> case,
> and preparing a top-notch submission on these and other issues. In the
> meantime, perhaps interested players may want to use this list to discuss
> what this submission should contain?
>
> Bruce
>
> ******************************************
> Prof Bruce Royan   www.concurrentcomputing.co.uk
> 41 Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh, EH10 4BL,   UK
> +44 131 4473151                    +44 77 1374 4731
> ******************************************
>
>