World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event to promote reading, publishing and copyright, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Since 1995, the 23rd of April has been a day to celebrate content creators and the laws that protect their works.
In honor of World Book and Copyright Day, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite sentiments on copyright from the past year:
“As the Supreme Court has said, copyright is intended to be the ‘engine of free expression.’ The copyright system provides a critical framework to support creativity, culture, innovation and, yes, ‘free expression,’ to the benefit of the public. The U.S. Copyright Office stands directly in the center of this crucial legal framework as the principal federal entity charged with administering the nation’s copyright law and supporting the vibrancy of American creativity and culture.” Karyn Temple, Register of Copyrights and Director of the United States Copyright Office, in her first address as the United States Register of Copyrights.
“There is no ‘left’ or ‘right’ when it comes to respecting copyright. Rather, the creative community stands united in support of a copyright system that will continue to make the U.S. the global leader in the creative arts and the global paradigm for free expression.” – Open Letter to Congress from Copyright Alliance, which represents individuals and organizations across the spectrum of copyright disciplines.
“I feel that copyright should be far more embraced in discussions as an enabler of creativity, an enabler of the diversity of what we publish, or an enabler of innovation.” Michiel Kolman, President of the International Publishers Association and Senior Vice President for Information Industry Relations, Elsevier, during a panel at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair.
“Copyright is not an obstacle. It’s something you need to understand how to navigate, and we want to make that as easy and as transparent as possible.”Tracey Armstrong, CEO, Copyright Clearance Center onNECN’s “Doing Copyright Right” segment.
“The way people enjoy culture and entertainment has completely changed – and this is good. But it is important that we don’t leave creators in the cold.” Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, in a Tweet after an agreement on copyright was reached.
“It’s best to reframe thinking about sharing from “Who needs to know?” – which is hard to define — to “Who’s not permitted to know this information?” This way, people eligible to know certain information can access it, even if we didn’t know they need it.” – Shelley Drabik, Information Management, Honeywell, in a blog post “Understanding the Rules of Content & Information Sharing in a Global Organization”
“The Music Modernization Act is now the law of the land, and thousands of songwriters and artists are better for it. The result is a music market better founded on fair competition and fair pay. The enactment of this law demonstrates what music creators and digital services can do when we work together collaboratively to advance a mutually beneficial agenda. It’s a great day for music. We hope fans across the country will join with us in celebration and PLAY IT LOUD.”RIAA president Mitch Glazier following the signing of the Music Modernization Act
“I’m proud of American leadership and the USPTO’s efforts in the negotiation of the Marrakesh Treaty, and the opportunities that our ratification creates for the blind and visually impaired community in the United States and around the world. This treaty establishes an important mechanism to both protect intellectual property rights and expand access to information and resources.” Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) following the United States becoming a member of the Marrakesh Treaty.
“With today’s agreement, we are making copyright rules fit for the digital age. Europe will now have clear rules that guarantee fair remuneration for creators, strong rights for users and responsibility for platforms. When it comes to completing Europe’s digital single market, the copyright reform is the missing piece of the puzzle.” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, after the Council of the European Union gave its green light to the new Copyright Directive.
Keep Learning:
Celebrating World Copyright Day: 8 Resources to Help You Navigate Copyright