Archive for February 21st, 2008

Shaping the Future forum: Naomi Korn: Overview of IP opportunities and challenges

Naomi KornNaomi Korn, the SCA’s IPR Consultant, kicked off the Shaping the Future forum at the British Library on February 19 with a lively overview of the challenges of IP - from content to the law and resources to policies - but also highlighted some of the opportunities it offers.

Read on to find out what she said and to see the presentations from her talk. Continue reading ‘Shaping the Future forum: Naomi Korn: Overview of IP opportunities and challenges’

Shaping the Future forum: Rufus Pollock: Open Knowledge

rufus150.jpgRufus Pollock, an economist from the University of Cambridge, treated the Shaping the Future forum at the British Library on February 19 to a wide-ranging discourse on the benefits to society of Open Knowledge. Along the way he took in a 19th century poet laureate, pirate publishers, medicines in India and the joy of community and sharing. He began: “Copyright plays a role in stimulating creativity but also plays a role in restricting it. Here I will focus on the benefit of more open approaches to knowledge and production…” Read on for more from Rufus.

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Shaping the Future forum: Charles Oppenheim: Gowers review of IP

Charles OppenheimAt the Shaping the Future forum at the British Library on February 19, Professor Charles Oppenheim took a close look at the consultative report released by the Intellectual Property Office based on the Gowers Review of IP. He identified the exceptions to copyright covered in the document: educational; format shifting; research or private study; libraries and archives; parody and pastiche, and raised some of the questions and issues that the proposed modifications to these exceptions throw up. Read on to discover Professor Oppenheim’s view of Gowers, and to see the presentation slides from his talk. Continue reading ‘Shaping the Future forum: Charles Oppenheim: Gowers review of IP’

Shaping the Future forum: Benjamin White: British Library Digital Exceptions Strategy

Central to all IPR is the notion of exchange: a balance between rewarding innovation and sharing knowledge, Benjamin White of the British Library told the Shaping the Future forum on February 19. But has that balance shifted towards the rights holders and away from the user? Read on to find out the British Library’s perspective on copyright and the Gowers review, and to see the slides from Ben’s presentation. Continue reading ‘Shaping the Future forum: Benjamin White: British Library Digital Exceptions Strategy’

Shaping the Future forum: Naomi Korn and Charles Oppenheim: SCA IPR Consultancy workplan


Shaping the Future forum: Breakout group: Gowers Review - indentifying gaps and lobbying points

The Gowers Review of intellectual property was published in December 2006. The UK’s Intellectual Property Office has now issued a consultation paper proposing a number of changes to the copyright exceptions. The intention of this consultation is to assess how these modifications might be made in order to “… improve access to and use of copyright material for individuals, students and libraries”.

Responses to this consultation are due in by 8 April 2008 and the SCA is planning to submit a response informed by this meeting. In a content rich society, one which purports to support and value the role of the knowledge economy, critics of these proposed measures have voiced that these modifications do not go far enough.

Professor Charles Oppenheim, the SCA IP consultant, led a group of interested parties at the Shaping the Future forum at the British Library on 19 February to discuss:

  • Are these measures fit for the digital age?
  • What additional modifications should be incorporated in order to encourage the flow of content?
  • What are the key areas in which the SCA should be actively lobbying the UK’s IPO in response to the consultation?

Read on for the full discussion and, at the end, a summary of the points agreed.

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Shaping the Future forum: Breakout group: Practical steps for the SCA

IPR and licensing are central to the creation, sharing and delivery of e-content. The aim of the SCA IPR Consultancy is to address the potential obstacles IPR and licensing issues present, as well as encouraging best practices to meet these challenges going forward. The key objective is to create an environment in which content can be shared by establishing best practice, standards and a set of resources and policies which can be adopted by sponsors of the SCA and their constituent members. The work suggested by the IPR Consultants has been outlined within seven work packages over the course of the lifespan of the SCA.

Naomi Korn, one of the SCA IP consultants, led a group of interested parties at the Shaping the Future forum at the British Library on 19 February to discuss:

  • What do you think are some of major IP obstacles restricting the creation, sharing and delivery of e-content?
  • Beyond areas outlined in the SCA work plan, what additional areas might the IPR Consultants address?
  • Where can we collaborate most effectively to address the challenges that IP presents to the free flow of content?

Read on for the summing-up of the discussion.

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