Hi all,

I will start sending out the position paper shortly. [1] I will follow up with a blogpost (WMF blog - already in the queue). From what I've heard OKFN-DE and OKFN-AT might also write a note on this. If you feel like doing the same, please share your links!

Good news is that over the weekend two Spanish organisations joined. Our local chapter and Access Info Now. The latter is focused on public access to documents and specialises in Freedom of Information Act requests in Europe and Spain. They see copyright being abused as just another tool to block access, which explains their initial interest in our paper. It also carries the argument of censorship to our PDGov argument. They have already published a post on this. [2]

That brings our stats up to 33 organisations, 16 being European WMF affiliates.

Cheers,

Dimi

[1]https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Position_Paper_on_EU_Copyright
[2]http://www.access-info.org/index.php/en/european-union/628-reform-copyright-eu

2014-10-25 7:53 GMT+02:00 <aktron@centrum.cz>:

Dimi,

 

This is nice. Feels like I would like to write a new blog post with this progress. Together with the news I got earlier.

 

I also spoke with the Young Pirates. Well, the problem was not with my speech, but they were more interested about my work with Amelia than about the copyright reform. And also - there is a good chance, that I will work with the Pirates again... but here in Prague.

 

Let's see.

 

All Best

 

Jan

______________________________________________________________
> Od: Dimitar Parvanov Dimitrov <dimitar.parvanov.dimitrov@gmail.com>
> Komu: Advocacy Advisory Group for WMF LCA <Advocacy_Advisors@lists.wikimedia.org>
> Datum: 24.10.2014 13:41
> Předmět: [Advocacy Advisors] Position Paper on EU Copyright Reform
>

Hi all,

tl;dr
This is to let you know, that our "Position Paper on EU Copyright Reform" [1] has now been signed by 31 organisations and will be send out next week.

Signatories

We have 31 organisations from 17 European countries that signed it

15 Wikimedia chapters/thematic organisations/user groups

5 Open Knowledge (Foundation) chapters/groups

4 Organisations that primarily work on digital rights

3 Organisations mostly dedicated to free/open knowledge and IP issues

3 Organisations focused on free and open software

1 Open Street Map Foundation national partner

Unfortunately, the Open Street Map Foundation wants to sign it (the paper enjoyed vast support within their community) but for organisational reasons it would take them quite a while do so and we shouldn't wait much longer to send it out. Also, at least two more OKFN chapters stated their support for this, but haven't answered since.

Soft launch

We plan on sending this out to people directly involved in the drafting process of the copyright reform proposal and ask for face-to-face meetings. Trying to get general media attention seems like a waste at this point, As the reform proposal is nowhere near publication at this point. I feel it wold be wasted without (political) impact. 
Nevertheless, if you feel like sharing this, please feel more than free to do so (social media, blogposts).

Brussels Background

The new European Commission has its eyes on reforming copyright. The unit responsible for this was moved from the "internal market" directorate (DG MARKT) to the "internet" directorate (DG Connect), sending a rather positive signal. However, there is still considerable struggle within the institutions which way and how far to go. This paper intends to encourage the reform-willing crowd to act.

PDF Version

I am also attaching a PDF version of the Meta page that will be used in correspondence. Please let me know if you think something is not okay or it can be improved until early next week.

Thanks a ton to everyone who helped with this (more than 30 active people by my count)!

Cheers,

Dimi

[1]https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Position_Paper_on_EU_Copyright

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