[Advocacy Advisors] New EU-directive on orphan works / consultation process for national law

[Jan Engelmann]

Dear all (and sorry for crossposting),

today, the EU parliament has approved a new directive on certain
permitted uses of orphan works:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120907IPR50827/html/Orphan-works-to-go-public

Unfortunately, open-content platforms like WP don't belong to the
defined circle of entities which will be granted the right to digitize
and make accessible orphan works. Also, the scope of the directive
aims to non-commercial use only.

WMDE is currently taking part in the consultation process concerning
the implementation of the orphan works directive into national law.
Attached, you will find our statement given to the German Federal
Ministry of Justice in August (translated into English). Maybe it can
be useful for other purposes, especially within European chapters.
Please note that the letter referes to the provisional agreement:

http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st10/st10953.en12.pdf

Changes in the final version affect the matter of financial
compensation for rights holders who eventually show up.

Best regards,

Jan

-- 
Jan Engelmann
Leiter Politik & Gesellschaft
-------------------------------------
Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.
Obentrautstr. 72
10963 Berlin

Telefon 030 - 219 158 26-0
www.wikimedia.de

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