Icdl Delhi Dec 2006 Battisti

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 1

How 13 French library associations managed to get some exceptions into the Copyright law

How 13 French library associations managed to get some exceptions into the Copyright law

ICDLNew Delhi, 2006

Monet, Les nymphéas

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 2

French « Droit d’auteur»French « Droit d’auteur»

Rights attributed to a real person

Author considered “sacred”

Evolution … The growing weight of economic rights and related rights

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 3

French « Droit d’auteur »French « Droit d’auteur »

No rights expressly recognized for users

BUT indirect rights thanks to:

- a list of exceptions

- the limited term of the copyright

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 4

French « Droit d’auteur»French « Droit d’auteur»

A strict interpretation of the law

Example : The rights to quote is strictly limited to a textdoesn’t apply to an excerpt

(Supreme Court of Appeal/ Nov. 13, 2003)

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 5

The first French Copyright Bill

The first French Copyright Bill

The European Union Copyright Directive is intended to harmonize the 25 different European laws on Copyright

This would involve that each State accept some compromise

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The first French Copyright Bill

The first French Copyright Bill

A “light” implementation with two new exceptions - incidental reproductions (compulsory)- reproduction concerning people with disabilities

(optional)

+ Three establishments in charge of the legal deposit are attributed usage rights

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 7

The first French Copyright Bill

The first French Copyright Bill

The protection for technological measures

Some fears :

- no interoperability (e.g. : problems with free software)

- obligation to pay twice (fair compensation + technological measure)

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 8

Legal backgroundLegal background

The three-step test

Exceptions should be confined :1) “to special cases which 2) don’t conflict with a normal exploitation of the workand3) don’t reasonably prejudice the legitimate interest of the

rights holders“

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Legal backgroundLegal background

The three-step test

defined for legislators

could be used by judges during cases with legal uncertainty

e.g. : prohibition of creating a private copy in a case about the reproduction of a DVD for “personal” use (Tribunal de grande instance, Paris / April 30,2004)

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Legal backgroundLegal background

Contracts are privileged

One fear

not being strong enough to negotiate

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Legal background Legal background

Different choices in other European countries

cf. A short study with EBLIDA Uses in libraries in some European Union countries Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

<http://droitauteur.levillage.org/spip/IMG/pdf/usages-en-europe.pdf >

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Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

French librarians are not accustomed to negotiating

Several reasons : - Not trained to be negotiators

- Administrative rules- Centralization

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Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

The emphasis is on the exceptions

a balance between users and rightholders

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Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

A common task undertaken by 13 French associations

- events (Salon du livre, …..) and articles

- discussions with members of Parliament, Ministries, publishers ….

- a mailing list, an extranet and a website http://www.droitauteur.levillage.org

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 15

Lobbies and French librarians Lobbies and French librarians

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Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

We are not alone

- la Conférence des Présidents d’Universités (CPU)- l’Association des Maires de France (AMF)- La Fédération nationale des collectivités

territoriales pour la culture (FNCC)

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 17

Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

2 new exceptions concerning librarians (without compensation)

specific acts of reproduction made by publicly accessible libraries, museums or archives

uses in library for the benefit of people with disabilities

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 18

Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

A new exception for illustration in the framework of teaching or scientific research

(with compensation and very restricted)

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Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

It is the first time that the word “library”

has appeared in the exceptions provided by the French Intellectual Property Code

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 20

Lobbies and French librarians

Lobbies and French librarians

We are still watchful concerning

- technological measures

- the implementation of the exceptions granted to libraries especially for teaching and research purposes

- new legal issues, like the implementation of an Anti-terrorist Law or other matters of concern

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Main success Main success

Recognition

by public authorities

as a reliable political actor

michele.battisti@adbs.fr 22

Main success Main success

Making French librarians aware of the importance of international debates on the

information society