Press Release

Unbalanced EU Copyright threatens access to information for European citizens in libraries

The Hague, Wednesday, 3 December 1997

EBLIDA, the European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations, is warning that the new European copyright laws currently under discussion in the European Commission are threatening the European citizens' legitimate access to information in their own libraries.

European libraries share the widespread concern that pirates could take advantage of the possibilities that new technologies offer and make unlimited numbers of perfect copies and distribute them over the networks. But they fear that the current proposals fail to strike a balance between the objective to prevent piracy and the legitimate aspirations of European citizens to have reasonable access to information and culture in their libraries. EBLIDA warns of a nightmare future in which nothing can be looked at, read, used or copied without permission or payment.

Each year, libraries in Europe provide a range of services to millions of researchers, students and members of the public. These services are performed in conformity with national copyright laws. The new technologies have made it possible to provide these services even more efficiently. Libraries guarantee universal access to the benefit of the Information Society to every single citizen. In a future where every information has to be paid for, public information systems that libraries have developed to ensure the democratic right to access information would disappear.

EBLIDA argues that new EU legislation should follow the lines of the new WIPO Copyright Treaty that was adopted at the end of last year on international level. This Treaty gives authors the exclusive rights over the reproduction of their works but at the same time confirms that existing exceptions to this rights for libraries can be carried forward and even extended in the digital environment.

Without infringing copyright, European citizens have a right to expect that they are able to read or view electronic material in their libraries just as they are free to open a book. Without infringing copyright, they must be able to copy a limited number of pages electronically or on paper for private use and research or educational purposes. Without infringing copyright, libraries must be able to use electronic technologies to preserve copyrighted materials in their collections as part of the cultural heritage. Without infringing copyright, libraries should provide on-site access to electronic copyrighted material, and to provide off-site access to registered users on a pay-per-use basis.

EBLIDA urges the European Commission to ensure that the new copyright proposals are well balanced in the spirit of the WIPO Copyright Treaty so that all European citizens can fully benefit from the Information Society and democratic values are preserved.

Notes to Editors

  1. The European Commission's draft "Directive on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society" was presented by Commissioner Monti for inter-service consultation on 16 October 1997. It is expected to be presented as a formal Commission proposal for a Directive before the end of the year.
  2. Exceptions from the exclusive reproduction right of the author for the private use of material and for research or educational purposes are provided in the legislation of most Member States. The WIPO Copyright Treaty of 1996 confirmed the crucial aspect of balance in copyright in its Preamble: "... recognizing the need to maintain a balance between the rights of authors and the larger public interest, particularly education, research and access to information, as reflected in the Berne Convention."
  3. EBLIDA functions as the umbrella association for library, information, documentation and archive associations and all kinds of libraries throughout Europe. The organisation was founded in 1992 and has established itself as a vital link between the European institutions and library and information professionals. At the moment EBLIDA represents over 95.000 libraries throughout Europe.

    For further information, please contact:
    Barbara Schleihagen, director of EBLIDA or
    Emanuella Giavarra, legal advisor to EBLIDA
    PO Box 43300
    NL-2504 The Hague
    Tel: +31-70-309 06 08
    fax: +31-70-309 07 08
    email: eblida@nblc.nl

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