Hello everyone,
I wanted to give you all a brief update on a couple of advocacy-related
matters. I'm really happy to report that in the last couple of days
Wikimedia UK has signed theLyon Declaration on Access to Information and
Development <http://www.lyondeclaration.org/>I believe this is an important
statement for us to make, underscoring our belief that: "increasing access
to information and knowledge across society, assisted by the availability
of information and communications technologies (ICTs), supports sustainable
development and improves people’s lives."
The second policy item for update is the Free Knowledge Advocacy Group EU
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy> position paper on copyright
reform
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Position_Paper_on_EU_Copyright>.
Wikimedia UK has now signed this paper, joining several other European
chapters and other open knowledge organisations. This work is important on
a European level as collectively the FKAGEU is making a strong case for
copyright reform favourable to the Wikimedia and open knowledge movement.
The main areas of interest the group is working on are harmonisation of
freedom of panorama across the EU to the most liberal model, the public
domain licensing of publicly funded works, and the right to use orphan
works. What is particularly pleasing is that there is a variety of
non-Wikimedia organisations now participating in this work. I hope that in
time the work of the growing FKAGEU will begin to link up with the work of
the Open Coalition to further amplify our voice and empower our sector.
If you'd like to know more, please do contact me directly or reply to the
list and I will respond.
Thanks and regards,
Stevie
--
Stevie Benton
Head of External Relations
Wikimedia UK
+44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173
@StevieBenton
Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England
and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513.
Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street,
London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a
global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the
Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).
*Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal
control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.*