"Library Copyright Alliance Issues Critique of WIPO Draft Treaty on Traditional Cultural Expressions"

From an ALA District Dispatch Announcement (11 pages; PDF)

The Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) released comments on the latest version of a draft treaty on traditional cultural expressions (TCE), a legal instrument that seeks to protect and manage folklore and other cultural expression by Western copyright laws. The LCA finds the categorization of traditional cultural expressions overly broad, protecting works that are currently in the public domain including mythology, the Old and New Testament, legends, and works that have typically never been protected by copyright law such as words, games, and sports. The draft treaty also conflicts with fundamental tenets of U.S. copyright policy including free expression, the advancement of learning, and fair use.

Read the Full Text Comments from the LCA.
The comments were written by Jonathan Band, Counsel to the Library Copyright Alliance.

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