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Intellectual Property

  • Federal Legislation
  • ALA Library Fact Sheet 7 - Video and Copyright
    ALA Library Fact Sheet giving guidelines on the use of videotapes in libraries (and classrooms), as well as links to the companies that sell public performance rights licenses.
  • Anti-Piracy Legislation
  • Bi-Lateral Free Trade Agreements
    Bi-lateral free trade agreements form part of the web of international agreements that the U.S. makes with other nations in matters that relate to common trade or service issues. These treaties are part of U.S. policy to foster meaningful trade relationships throughout the world. In addition to the Free Trade Area of the Americas Agreement (FTAA), which is currently being negotiated, there are other FTAs in various stages of negotiation or conclusion by the U.S. Trade Representative.
  • Broadcast Flag
    Several years ago, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order that would have required that all digital electronic devices, such as television sets and personal computers, include code (known as the "broadcast flag") that accompanies digital television (DTV) signals to prevent redistribution of the digital content over the Internet. ALA was part of a successful suit against the FCC to stop the broadcast flag rule from going into effect in 2005. Having passed through the executive and judicial branches of government, this issue entwining law and technology has moved to the legislative branch.
  • The U.S - Chile and U.S.- Singapore Free Trade Agreements
    In September 2003 President Bush signed free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, respectively. These treaties are part of U.S. policy to foster meaningful trade relationships throughout the world. The bilateral treaties cover a broad scope of subjects including intellectual property rights, non-immigrant professionals, and domain names on the Internet.
  • Copyright Court Cases
  • Copyright Legislative Agenda - Negative Legislation
    Information describing older, more negative copyright legislation
  • Copyright Term Extension Act Brief
    a short guide to the Copyright Term Extension Act
  • Dastar Corp v. Twentieth Century Fox Fim Corp
    Details of the Dastar Corp v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp Court Case
  • Duration of Copyright Protection
    Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and it effect
  • Eldred v. Ashcroft
    Details on the Supreme Court Case Eldred v. Ashcroft
  • Free Trade Area of the Americas
  • Libraries and Licensing
    A continuing issue for ALA in the past few years relates to licensing. License agreements, rather than outright sales, have become an accepted and prevalent means for publishers to provide their products to libraries. And although licensing has proven to be a convenient way to obtain journals, for example, license terms can expand -- or restrict -- the uses of a work that would have been allowed under the copyright law
  • Libraries as Creatures of Copyright
    article by Carol Henderson on intellectual property law and policy
  • The Publisher Over Your Shoulder
    article on copyright and fair use by Grant Painter
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization International Convention on Cultural Diversity
    Libraries as well as other parts of the U.S. cultural community should stand to benefit from an international treaty that is intended to promote the importance of culture and art in realizing “human rights and fundamental freedoms” and to enhance public access to diverse cultural expressions.
  • Users' Rights in Copyright: An Interview with Ray Patterson
  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
    WIPO implements international copyright laws that implicate member nations such as the U.S. For example, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (The Berne Convention) established international standards for copyright protection that relates to libraries. WIPO members are currently debating the need for extending further copyright protection to expressions of folklore.
  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Proposed Treaty on the Protection of Broadcast Organizations
    For several years, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has been considering a treaty that would provide copyright-like rights (related rights) to broadcast organizations. Such a treaty already exists – the 1961 Rome Convention – which the U.S. never joined.