The WIPO development agenda and the contribution of the international library community

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the international strengthening of copyright law in developing countries and the active involvement of the international library community in the movement against it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the overprotection of intellectual property rights through international and bilateral treaties, the reaction against such through the proposal of a WIPO development agenda, and the contribution of the international library organizations to the debates and discussions in the WIPO arena.

Findings

The initiative for a development agenda for WIPO has proven much more successful than many had imagined, even its promoters. The most relevant proposals made by the international library community were included in the final list of approved recommendations.

Originality/value

The paper raises awareness of the relationship between copyright and access to knowledge and, in consequence, the need for library organizations to exert influence in such legislation.

Citation

Carlos Fernández‐Molina, J. and Augusto Chaves Guimarães, J. (2009), "The WIPO development agenda and the contribution of the international library community", The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 No. 6, pp. 1010-1025. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470911004093