The proposal on exceptions and limitations was brought forward by Chile, and while it was cosponsored by other countries, it received resistance from the EU and the US in particular. The proposal would provide secondary creators and users access to copyrighted literary and artistic works without authorisation or compensation. This is seen as necessary to promote societal, economic and technological development. Consequently, discussion will ensue to reach an agreement.

The Committee also discussed the broadcasting treaty and the audiovisual performances treaty; however, the issues did not advance and members remained divided on the proposals. The following discussion concerned the four new agenda items proposed by the EU:

• Resale royalties, which relate to the success of works after the rights have been sold by the creators
• Collective management, which relates to royalty collecting societies
• Orphan works, meaning works for which rights-holders cannot be found
• Applicable law, meaning law of which country is applied during disputes.

The US expressed its support to the last three items, stating that it was neither against nor for resale royalties. The EU proposed these new items only months after the meeting mandate had been handed out. Thus, many saw it as an attempt to steer the focus away from the proposal on exceptions and limitations to copyright, which took centre stage in discussions after the negotiations on the broadcasting treaty collapsed last year.

Next steps:
The next Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 3^rd-7^th, 2008.

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For the WIPO press release, please click here.