Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Creative Commons says "Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Harm User Rights and the Commons"

Free Stock: Copyright sign 3D renderThe Creative Commons has analyzed the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and found six items of concern related to copyright and the public domain.  One of those concerns is the extension of copyright protection in those countries which do not already protect works for the life of the creator plus 70 years.  The Creative Commons notes:
The ratification of the TPP would limit the size and diversity of materials that are available for everyone to build on, from art, music and other expressive cultural creations, to education resources to scientific research. It will also exacerbate the problem of orphan works, because those works would have entered into the public domain because their copyrights had expired. Instead, they’ll remain restricted by copyright for additional decades even though no ownership claim has been made, and no owner located to exercise the exclusive rights that copyright grants.
You might look at this and think "what does it matter?"  Like most things, the impact will not be on you, but will be on those that come after us...those who can't use materials published in their own century, without seeking permission, because of copyright protection. To me, that seems wrong.

The Creative Commons has a petition, if you would like to sign it.  There are also petitions at Change.org.

1 comment:

Laura | Dutch Law Firm AMS Advocaten said...

Interesting article by the Creative Commons, I am definitely going to read through it. thanks for sharing!