Copyright for Creativity Declaration Launched in 2010

March 7, 2011
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

The Copyright for Creativity declaration was announced on 5 May 2010 as a call to European groups which consist of user groups, consumers, creators, technology companies, libraries and related parties to support innovation and creativity by means of copyright protection for digitally produced work.

The idea behind the Copyright for Creativity declaration is to ensure an environment where creativity and innovation can be fostered in the digital age. As such it is also a call for the copyright laws of Europe to be adapted to fit the modern digital age.

As such the Copyright for Creativity declaration as a broad coalition of mentioned groups is a call for protection of creative works as well as allowing for exceptions to ensure that specific content can be used again and that others can build on existing works.

With such then, an author for instance, has the right to a work, but there should also be an exception allowing another author to create a new work of parody which is based on the original work by another author.

Exceptions as called for the Copyright for Creativity declaration therefore will also allow a party to cite or quote from a research paper. With that then, the right to protect a work and the right to reuse such a work and reference from it should be balanced to foster a spirit of creativity rather than simply protecting the author’s rights.

The Copyright for Creativity declaration is a call to governments for ensuring copyright laws that make it possible to create more works, store such, reuse, and reference in the digital age while also protecting the rights of the authors and publishers.

Several organisations have already become signatories to the Copyright for Creativity declaration including the European Consumers’ Organisation, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, and the European Digital Rights Association, to name, but a few of the signatories.

Contact us at Smit & Van Wyk Intellectual Property Attorneys for legal guidance regarding usage, copying, storage, and distribution of copyright protected material in digital format.