Copyright is a key enabler of access to science and culture.
IPA Secretary General Jens Bammel has welcomed a new UN report on Copyright Policy and the Right to Science and Culture, calling for "objective, fact-based and fair analysis of how copyright balances the human rights of creators with those of consumers."
Speaking today at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Mr Bammel called copyright "a success story. It has increased access to culture and science, creating enormous opportunities for creative industries and consumers."
He highlighted the growing number of works available to people in developing countries through creative commons licences, open access licences, low cost commercial licences, differential pricing and freemium based licences, all of which are based on copyright.
“Copyright plays a vital and positive role in enabling these forms of free or affordable access."
Mr Bammel called for more inclusive dialogue on this issue at WIPO, involving a broader range of non-government stakeholders, particularly from the developing world.
Note to editors:
- The International Publishers Association is the international federation of national publishers associations, representing all aspects of book and journal publishing from around the world. IPA is an industry association with a human rights mandate. It fights against censorship and promotes copyright, literacy and freedom to publish, around the world. www.internationalpublishers.org
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