How well did copyright laws serve libraries during COVID-19?: Research Report

dc.audienceAudience::Copyright and Access to Knowledgeen_US
dc.audienceAudience::Advisory Committee on Copyright and other Legal Mattersen_US
dc.contributor.authorInternational Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-04T15:01:22Z
dc.date.available2022-05-04
dc.date.available2022-05-04T15:01:22Z
dc.date.issued2022-05-04
dc.description.abstractThe report involved a survey of 114 libraries worldwide and 28 interviews during February and March 2022. Respondents were from 29 countries. 83% of responding library professionals said they had copyright-related challenges providing materials during pandemic-related facility closures. These intersected with ongoing challenges predating the pandemic, including budget pressures, external financial crises, difficult negotiations with publishers, and demand for eBooks that outpaces publisher offerings. While many publishers offered expanded access to services and content during the early months of the pandemic, these offers usually did not last for sufficient time for libraries to meaningfully integrate them into teaching and research activities. 69% of respondents who had challenges said these included issues providing access to textbooks, and 52% of libraries that had copyright challenges indicated challenges with providing access internationally, as students and faculty returned to their home countries. To access content digitally, some libraries made use of programs such as the HathiTrust's Emergency Temporary Access project and ‘Resource-Sharing during COVID’ (RSCVD).Libraries supporting online classrooms faced legal issues around communicating content at a distance. These included whether it was allowed to play music or films in online class settings, as would have been done during in-person classes, or to record lectures that involved copyrighted material. Laws often leave gray zones which create uncertainty about how content can be shared. This points to the need for clarified legal protections for libraries and the services they offer. The full report is planned to be released in advance of WIPO SCCR/42, the 42nd meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization's Standing Committee on Copyright Relations. IFLA is looking forward to speaking to libraries’ experiences and advocating for strong limitations and exceptions to support their work delivering services and providing access to content.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/1925
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rights.holderInternational Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)en_US
dc.rights.licenseCC BY 4.0en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en_US
dc.subjectSubject::Copyrighten_US
dc.subjectSubject::Copyright lawsen_US
dc.subjectSubject::Copyright reformen_US
dc.subjectSubject::Copyright exceptions and limitationsen_US
dc.subjectSubject::Online library servicesen_US
dc.subjectSubject::Academic and research librariesen_US
dc.subjectSubject::Researchen_US
dc.titleHow well did copyright laws serve libraries during COVID-19?: Research Reporten_US
dc.typeReportsen_US
ifla.UnitUnits::Headquartersen_US
ifla.UnitUnits::Advisory Committee::Advisory Committee on Copyright and other Legal Mattersen_US
ifla.oPubId0en_US

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How well did copyright laws serve libraries during COVID-19?: Research Report