[Advocacy Advisors] Joining a letter on copyright term in the TPP?

Mon Dec 9 19:37:54 UTC 2013

Hi, all-
Just a heads up- given the positive comments on this list, and internal
approval, we told KEI a few minutes ago that WMF would sign on, and that is
now reflected on the KEI website.

Thanks-
Luis

On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 2:56 PM, Stephen LaPorte <slaporte at wikimedia.org>wrote:

> Hello advocacy advisers,
>
> Current drafts of the Trans Pacific Partnership[0], a new trade treaty
> currently being negotiated, contains language that would require countries
> that sign the treaty to extend the length of the minimum copyright term to
> life of the author plus 70 years. Global treaties currently require only
> life + 50 years, so the TPP would represent a widespread extension of
> copyright terms by 20 years, and make it hard to roll back the copyright
> term in countries that already have life + 70.
>
> The letter below[1], addressed to the TPP negotiators, directly addresses
> this issue. We’re considering signing, because the letter is specifically
> targeted at an issue (copyright term) that is core to our encyclopedic
> mission, and affects (at present) 14 different countries.
>
> Does the advisory group have any thoughts about joining the letter? We
> would like to let KEI know if we will join the letter before December 7,
> 2013.
>
> [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Partnership ;
> http://tppinfo.org/
>
> (We briefly mentioned TPP in the Wikilegal fact sheet on ACTA in January
> 2012. If anyone is interested in updating that document, feel free to get
> in touch! See:  https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikilegal/ACTA)
>
> [1] http://keionline.org/nolifeplus70intpp
>
> --
>
> The letter was prepared by Knowledge Ecology International, and will be
> joined by like-minded organizations including the Open Knowledge
> Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Free Software Foundation.
>
> Full copy of the letter:
>
> *Dear TPP negotiators,*
>
> *In a December 7-10 meeting in Singapore you will be asked to endorse a
> binding obligation to grant copyright protection for 70 years after the
> death of an author. We urge you to reject the life+ 70 year term for
> copyright.*
>
> *There is no benefit to society of extending copyright beyond the 50 years
> mandated by the WTO. While some TPP countries, like the USA, Mexico, Peru,
> Chile or Australia, already have life+ 70 (or longer) copyright terms,
> there is growing recognition that such terms were a mistake, and should be
> shortened, or modified by requiring formalities for the extended periods.*
>
> *The primary harm from the life+ 70 copyright term is the loss of access
> to countless books, newspapers, pamphlets, photographs, films, sound
> recordings and other works that are “owned” but largely not commercialized,
> forgotten, and lost. The extended terms are also costly to consumers and
> performers, while benefiting persons and corporate owners that had nothing
> to do with the creation of the work.*
>
> *Life+70 is a mistake, and it will be an embarrassment to enshrine this
> mistake into the largest regional trade agreement ever negotiated.*
>
> --
> Stephen LaPorte
> Legal Counsel
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
> *This message might have confidential or legally privileged information in
> it. If you have received this message by accident, please delete it and let
> us know about the mistake. For legal reasons, I may only serve as an
> attorney for the Wikimedia Foundation. This means I may not give legal
> advice to or serve as a lawyer for community members, volunteers, or staff
> members in their personal capacity.*
>
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>
>

-- 
Luis Villa
Deputy General Counsel
Wikimedia Foundation
415.839.6885 ext. 6810

NOTICE: *This message may be confidential or legally privileged. If you
have received it by accident, please delete it and let us know about the
mistake. As an attorney for the Wikimedia Foundation, for legal/ethical
reasons I cannot give legal advice to, or serve as a lawyer for, community
members, volunteers, or staff members in their personal capacity.*
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