The Centre on Knowledge Governance (CKG) is hosting a webinar to analyse all the documents before WIPO that could serve as a starting point for text-based work in accordance with the Work Program on Exceptions and Limitations (SCCR/43/8 Rev) adopted by the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) in 2023. See below for a list of the 3 documents to be analysed. This is an ONLINE event.
- The US Documents: The United States’ proposed “Objectives and Principles for Exceptions and Limitations for Libraries and Archives” (SCCR/47/10) and “Objectives and Principles for Exceptions and Limitations for Educational, Teaching, and Research Institutions” (SCCR/47/9);
- The African Group Proposal: The African Group’s October 7, 2025, ”Proposal on Limitations and Exceptions” (SCCR/47/5); and
- The Chair’s Text: the Chair and Vice-Chair’s November 10, 2025, “Text Proposed in the Framework of Work Towards an Appropriate International Legal Instrument or Instruments on Limitations and Exceptions” (SCCR/47/8).
The core questions of the webinar will be:
- How do the drafts display agreement on the subjects of a potential instrument?
- What are the advantages of any of the document’s provisions and how might they be improved?
- How might any of the provisions add to the history and operation of existing international copyright?
CKG will present recent research on copyright limitations and exceptions, followed by a roundtable of experts sharing views on select provisions.
Panelists will include:
- Sean Flynn, CKG (Moderator), summary of recent research outputs by CKG
- Jonathan Band, Counsel, CKG, comparison of the documents before the committee.
- James Love, Knowledge Ecology International, the evolution of teaching and research exceptions in the Berne Convention;
- Faith Majekolagbe, University of Alberta Faculty of Law, comments on the African Group Proposal
- Christophe Geiger, Luiss University, Rome, preambular objectives and remuneration
- Margaret Chon, Seattle University School of Law, visiting researcher, Centre on Knowledge Governance (TBC), research exceptions for access to science.
- Luis Villaroel, Innovarte, Chile, proposals to guide application of the three-step test.
- Teresa Nobre, Communia, comparing the African Group Proposal with EU Law.
References:
- CKG, recent publications relevant to SCCR 48, https://knowledgegov.org/focus-area/wipo-negotiations/
- The Berne Convention revisions for limitations and exceptions to copyright, 2012:1 KEI Research Note (August 2012. Revised June 18, 2017). https://www.keionline.org/copyright/berne-convention-exceptions-revisions
- Faith O. Majekolagbe, Balancing the Global Copyright System in the Public Interest: An Analysis of the African Group’s Proposed Instrument on Limitations and Exceptions, Working Paper, 1 December 2025, https://www.southcentre.int/working-paper-1-december-2025/
- Christophe Geiger, Implementing an International Instrument for Interpreting Copyright Limitations and Exceptions, International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law 40(6) (January 2009) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43234236_Implementing_an_International_Instrument_for_Interpreting_Copyright_Limitations_and_Exceptions
- Intellectual Property And The Public Interest: The Wto Trips Agreement And The Copyright Three-Step Test, Communication From South Africa, https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/IP/C/W663.pdf&Open=True
