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Last week, the Africa Group has submitted a proposal for a Draft Work Program on Exceptions and Limitations to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). It was submitted in for discussion at the upcoming SCCR meeting in May.

The first two items proposed by the African Group are:

1. The Committee will continue to work towards an appropriate international legal instrument or instruments (whether model law, joint recommendation, treaty and/or other forms) on limitations and exceptions for libraries, archives, museums, education, research, and uses for persons with other disabilities.
 

2. Work under point 1 should begin with the discussion of proposed provisions by Member States, including those considered in previous Sessions and in Chair’s Charts, on the priority issues identified in the Report on Regional Seminars and International Conference on Limitations and Exceptions (SCCR/40/2), including:

a. to ensure that all laws enable the preservation activities of libraries, archives, and museums, including the use of preserved materials across borders; and

b. to promote the adaptation of exceptions to the online and cross border environment, such as by permitting teaching, learning and research through digital and online tools.

The full proposal is available here.