This week, PIJIP and the South Centre are running a short course on the legal issues being considered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). The course has been designed for an invited group of Geneva delegates and representatives of non-governmental organizations who participate in WIPO proceedings. It purpose is to help build the knowledge base of delegates and advocates to effectively represent public interest issues in the proceedings of the SCCR and in other WIPO Committees where Limitations and Exceptions are being discussed. 

The course is being organized in the context of renewed momentum on copyright limitations and exceptions issues in WIPO. Last year, the SCCR adopted the Proposal By African Group For A Draft Work Program on Exceptions and Limitations; the Second Revised Chair’s Draft of the Broadcast Treaty included an expanded exceptions provision including a Rome Convention-like permissive list for scientific research, preservation and other uses; and the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property adopted a Pilot Project on Text and Data Mining to Support Research and Innovation in Universities and Other Research Oriented Institutions in Africa.