Summary of Positions
- ALA supports the protection of the public domain.
- ALA opposes any revision of Section 108 that would erode existing exceptions and foundational principles.
- ALA supports policy efforts to override contracts for digital resources that circumvent library exceptions and limitations guaranteed by the copyright law.
- ALA opposes any legislation that would move the hiring authority for the Register of Copyright from the Librarian of Congress.
- ALA opposes any legislation that would make the Copyright Office an independent agency of the government.
- ALA supports the modernization of the Library of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office.
- ALA supports a reduction in statutory damages available under the law.
The Issue
It is impossible to honor professional cores values of librarians—first amendment, equity of access, and inclusion—without copyright law. Without it, libraries would be unable to loan books, preserve content, and exercise fair use. Libraries have a privileged position in the law with individual exceptions that apply only to non-profit libraries and archives. Congress recognized that libraries are sites of learning, where protected content will be continually available, distributed, used, and preserved to further knowledge, fostering the Constitutional purpose of the law “to advance the progress of science and the useful arts” to benefit the public.
Copyright policy favoring rights holders over users of information can limit access, free speech, research, and scholarship. Because of advances in digital technology and its widespread availability, educators, researchers, and the general public are using content in new ways. Where fair use begins and ends in this environment is put to the test. At the same time, fundamental reproduction rights crafted with physical content in mind must be upheld. Section 108 rights continue to be used and provide an understanding of the power Congress granted libraries in order to ensure they can fulfill mission-critical functions, including interlibrary loan, preservation, and educational services like public performance of content in the classroom.
ALA works with Congress, the U.S. Copyright Office, the U.S Patent and Trademark Office and other government agencies to represent the library community and the public and to ensure that users rights are upheld. Our position is that copyright will only be effective when it is balanced between the rights of the public and the interests of rights holders.
Recent Advocacy
- Filing with the U.S. Copyright Office in support of the Office's proposed rulemaking regarding termination rights under the Music Modernization Act (December 1, 2022)
- Coalition letter opposing the SMART Copyright Act of 2022 (March 29, 2022)
- Library Copyright Alliance statement welcoming new library, museum, and archives exemptions to Section 1201
- Library Copyright Alliance letter to WIPO delegates urging the acceptance of Wikimedia as a WIPO observer (October 8. 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance comments to the US Copyright Office on proposed rules for preemptive opt-out (September 30, 2021)
- Software Preservation Network letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai supporting LDC's request for transition period (June 24, 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance Ex parte letter regarding Class 5 DVD preservation (June 23, 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance Follow-up Comments regarding NOI from Copyright Office on the implementation of the CASE Act (May 10, 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments regarding NOI from Copyright Office on the implementation of the CASE Act (April 26, 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments regarding Digital Copyright Act of 2021 draft (March 5, 2021)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments to the US Copyright Office of Preservation (December 14, 2020)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments regarding proposed exemption under 17 U.S.C. 1201 (December 14, 2020)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments on DMCA Reform Bill (December 1, 2020)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments regarding sovereign immunity (September 2, 2020)
- Library Copyright Alliance Comments regarding mandatory deposit of electronic-only books (July 29, 2020)
- Joint letter to World Intellectual Property Organization on the importance of IP in finding solutions to the COVID-19 crisis (April 3, 2020)
- Public statement written by ALA and Copyright Librarians acknowledging the strength of Fair Use for Emergency Remote Teaching and Research (March 13, 2020)
Related
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- Teach Act
- Copyright Tools
- CopyTalk Webinars
- Library Copyright Alliance
- Re:Create Coalition
- Correspondence Archive
Staff Contact
Alan Inouye
Senior Director, Government Relations & Public Policy
ainouye@alawash.org