infoJustice

Rationale for Supporting Costa Rica’s Proposal for Emergency COVID-19 Technology IP Pool for All Countries

The world is behind in developing and being able to supply the diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, medical devices, and other well adapted medical supplies [medical technologies] needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic which is sweeping across the globe. Although scientific and medical urgency are building, we need to ensure that the needed medical technologies will be developed and tested urgently, efficiently, and ethically with maximum degrees of open data, open science, and collaboration in the development stage and maximum degrees of universal and equitable access thereafter to all people in all countries. We therefore support the creation of a voluntary emergency Technology Intellectual Property Pool [TIPP] that will accelerate scientific discovery, technology development, proof of safety/efficacy/quality, and broad sharing of the benefits of scientific advancement and its applications in furtherance of the right to health.

Reading Aloud: Fair Use Enables Translating Classroom Practices to Online Learning

[Meredith Jacob, Peter Jaszi, Prue Adler, Michael Carroll, Will Cross, Kristina Ishmael, Pernille Ripp and Carrie Russell] In recent days, as many teachers have faced an abrupt shift to online teaching, there have been questions about how copyright law applies to the translation of classroom-based practices of reading aloud to students to the digital environment. While many well-intentioned commentators have warned teachers against this practice, the fact is that copyright law -- specifically fair use -- permits many read-aloud activities online. As instructors and learners adapt to new educational environments, copyright concerns about reading aloud need not be among the challenges they face.

Public Statement of Library Copyright Specialists: Fair Use & Emergency Remote Teaching & Research

[Statement signed by over 150 librarians] This Statement is meant to provide clarity for U.S. colleges and universities about how copyright law applies to the many facets of remote teaching and research in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. We write this as copyright specialists at colleges, universities, and other organizations supporting higher education in the U.S. and Canada who work every day with faculty, staff, and librarians to enable them to make ethical and legal choices about copyright issues in online teaching.

Intellectual Property and Trade Measures to Address the Covid-19 Crisis

[South Centre] As the Covid-19 virus continues to spread globally, immediate actions to fight the pandemic is a major priority for all governments. In this time of crisis, the timeliness of response is critical. A coordinated global effort is required to ensure access to affordable, safe and effective treatments, diagnostics and vaccines that are developed, as well as access to medical supplies and devices.
The South Centre views with concern the attempts by some governments and industry players to monopolize the availability of those products for their own nationalist agenda or to maximize profit, ahead of societal interest in tackling this global public health emergency. The private enforcement of patents and government trade restrictions may pose a dire threat to the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic.