CI Global Meeting on A2K

The Consumers International Global Meeting on A2K 2010 is to be held at the Holiday Villa hotel in Subang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 21 and 22 April 2010.

The meeting will bring together CI members and other NGOs from around the world to discuss and collaborate on issues of access to knowledge (A2K) and communications rights. Highlights will include the launch of the Consumers International IP Watch List [3] for 2010, the launch of CI's new film on A2K, and a preview of the results of our access barrier survey [4].

Don't miss the most important day on the A2K calendar for the global consumer movement!

1. Agenda
2. Paper abstracts
3. Registration [5] - now open!
4. Sponsors

Agenda

Paper abstracts

21 April 2010

• The launch of the 2010 IP Watch List will include the following presentation from a member:

  300th Anniversary of the Statute of Anne
  Speaker: Saskia Walzel, Consumer Focus
  Abstract: April 2010 marks the 300th anniversary of the Statute of Anne, considered the first Copyright Act. The successor 1911 Act was the model for many other countries. In the UK copyright [6] law exceptions (fair dealing [7]) were very strong until the 1911 Copyright Act and have been eroded since. The scope of copyright has also extended over time, starting with books, expanding to drawings etc in the 19th century and then sound recordings, motion pictures and databases in the 20th Century. Similarly the Statute of Anne only awarded the exclusive right to copy and issue copies to the public - other uses such as adaptations, translations etc were not covered. Over time almost all uses were brought within the scope of copyright. This talk will offer an overview of these developments.

• The report on the A2K Access barrier survey will include a report from our consulting statistician, Dr Karuthan Chinna, along with an announcement by member PROTESTE (Brazil) and this presentation from Atlas Sais (Morocco):

  The role of stakeholders in the education system and access to knowledge / Le rôle des acteurs du système éducatif dans l’accès à la connaissance
  Speaker: Najib el Amrani EL Idrissi and Mohamed Abdou Ammor
  Abstract: The integration of ICT [8] into the education system improves its performance. This technology has advantages in terms of cost and flexibility, but faces constraints of IP rights. Alternative means are free but are not known and used by the broad public. A policy of capacity building for users is to be developed. The extension and integration of training in the use of free software should be conducted by the education system. The strategy should encourage the promotion and support of free software developers and content. / L’intégration des TIC dans le système éducatif permet d’améliorer ses performances Cette technologie présente des avantages en terme de coûts et de souplesse mais se heurte aux contraintes des droits de PI. Des moyens alternatifs et gratuits existent mais ne sont pas connus et maîtrisés du large public. Une politique de renforcement des capacités des utilisateurs est à développer. La vulgarisation et l’intégration de la formation à l’utilisation des logiciels libres devraient être conduite par le système éducatif. La stratégie doit favoriser la promotion et l’appui aux développeurs de logiciels et contenus libres.

• Report on Australian research
  Speaker: David Vaile (University of New South Wales, Australia)
  Abstract: Our researcher from Australia, representing both his institution and also our member partner CHOICE, will present on their national-level research on the effect of consumer-friendly copyright exceptions and limitations. Apologies will be presented from Nimrod Kozlovski (InternetLaws, Israel) who had planned to present on the similar research he is conducting with support of the Israel Consumers Council.

• The session on national-level advocacy and campaigning activities will include reports from CAI India, CAO Nigeria, NCF South Africa, RACE Cameroon, ZACA Zambia, and IDEC Brazil. For the last of these the following abstract has been provided:

  Reforming the Copyright Law in Brazil
  Speaker: Guilherme Varella
  Abstract: The proposal of Idec's presentation is to discuss the ongoing process of reforming the copyright law in Brazil and to show some actions developed by the Institute referring to consumer's interests in this area. The Brazilian copyright law dates from 1998 and have received no update after the dissemination of the the digital age. Now, the federal government promises a new bill of act reforming Brazilian copyright law to be introduced in National Congress in beginning of 2010. In the same House, it increases the number of acts that provide still more restriction to consumers, as the keeping of personal customers information, the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) responsibility of reporting suspected crimes and behaviours of their users and the interruption of internet access, even without judicial order. As the Idec, several organizations are mobilized to obstruct these kind of projects and participate of the copyright reform construction. To contribute in the process of reaching rules that balance the rights of authors and rights of consumers to access information and culture, Idec develops activities with four main specific objectives: (1) advocate for consumer rights in the new copyright law in discussion in Brazil; (2) articulate with and establish partnerships with the educational sector; (3) disseminate information about the consumer rights and the copyright law reform in Brazil; (4) promote public debate, bringing views of experts, representatives of the federal government, parliamentarians and partner organizations. These are the points of Idec's paper and presentation in the meeting.

• The report on CI's Strategic Plan for 2010-2012 will include the following presentation from a member:

  Promoting Human Rights in the Information Society
  Speaker: Khalilur Rahman Sajal, General Secretary, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB)
  Abstract:The information society must be guided by objectives of peace, justice, equality and sustainable development at social, economic, cultural and demographic levels. It must permit access to the means of information and communication to all. Priority must be given to those who today are excluded from the information society. It must limit to the maximum extent possible its negative impact on the society. Promotion and establishment of human rights in information society is urgently needed. The information society must guarantee the right to freedom of expression and information. It should be in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 19, 27 and 28, which stipulate that `everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression' and that `everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community'. The information society must be firmly based on democratic foundations and on a real participation of all citizens. It should place the notions of communication, exchange and empowerment at the heart of its concerns and recognize local initiatives as crucial to its functioning. For promoting human rights, information society need information and communication technologies in public and private administrations, obligatory international funding mechanism, links between the `traditional media' and new information technologies and community access to information and communications, knowledge transfer through training programs for women, freedom from license restrictions on primary software code, use of open source as an alternative way of encouraging innovation and the development of adequate technologies.

• Evaluation of the project
  Speaker: Becky Lentz
  Abstract:Dr Lentz will describe the research that she is conducting by way of evaluation of the A2K project, and will invite members to participate.

• Dinner and movie night
  Location: Coriander Garden Restaurant, Holiday Villa Subang Hotel
  Programme:

  1. When Copyright Goes Bad (CI film)
  2. Big Buck Bunny
  3. RIP: A Remix Manifesto (CI remix)

22 April 2010

• Libraries and Access to Knowledge - Partners with Consumers
  Speaker: Mariana Harjevschi, eIFL [9].net
  Abstract: Access to knowledge (A2K) is essential for the functioning of open and democratic societies, economic development and innovation, culture and creativity. As the mission of libraries is to provide access to the world's cultural and scientific knowledge for current and future generations, libraries play a key role in the global A2K movement. This presentation will examine the role of libraries, especially from the global south, and how libraries are natural partners for consumers and consumer organisations advocating for access to knowledge. It will focus on the work of Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net), a global network of libraries in developing and transition countries and its programme “Advocacy for Access to Knowledge: copyright and libraries”, known as eIFL-IP, and will highlight the tools and learning resources available. It will look at Moldova as a case study for strengthening advocacy in the non-governmental sector in the project “Advocacy for Fair Copyright Laws: the role of libraries”, that aims to work with a range of civil society allies in Moldova. Finally, it will look at practical ways in which members of eIFL.net and CI can work together.

• Intellectual Property and development
  Speaker: Rami Olwan, Research Fellow at CCI, Center of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, Australia
  Abstract: To be provided.

• Cyber-Security and Consumers
  Speaker: Philip Victor, Director, Training, Skills Development and Outreach, IMPACT
  Abstract: Cybersecurity is a growing issue and it involves everyone today. With organisations and individuals dependent on information technology, the window for cyber threats will continue to grow. Attacks can happen from anywhere and with the growing number of users today, unsecured computers are being used by attackers as launching pads. Users awareness have become more vital than ever in order to reduce these attacks. In a borderless society it is important that governments, industry, academia, international bodies and individual users come together and collaborate in order to mitigate cyber threats and attacks. International cooperation and partnerships are crucial in realising this and creating greater awareness and savvy internet users. IMPACT is the first comprehensive global platform that brings together governments, academia, industry and international bodies to enhance the global community’s capacity to prevent, defend against and respond to cyber threats.

• 15Malaysia and Creative Commons
  Speaker: Pete Teo, recording artist and entrepreneur
  Abstract: To be provided. This session will likely include a short film screening.

• Access to Knowledge in the Information Society: Reconciling Consumer and Citizen Frameworks in Transnational Rights Advocacy
  Speaker:Dr Becky Lentz, McGill University, Canada
  Abstract: This paper presents the early stages of interdisciplinary research on Consumers International's transnational project: A Global Consumer Dialog and Advocacy Network on Access to Knowledge (A2K) Issues. Consumers International is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the only independent and authoritative global advocacy voice for consumer issues.The research seeks to provide civil society organizations and their funders guidance on how to structure advocacy in the field of communication andinformation policy (CIP). The study draws on insights from 1) social movement research, 2)critical discourse analysis, 3) public policy studies, 4) information society studies, and its cognate field, 5) communication and information (CIP) policy studies. Methods include online survey research accompanied by follow-up in-depth interviews.

• Government Initiatives in Promoting Free/Open Source Software in Malaysia
  Speaker: Firdaus Aziz, Adon Solutions
  Abstract: The Malaysian government (or at least certain quarters in the government) are aware of the benefits of Free/Open Source Software (FOSS [10]). There a few initiatives done by a few government agencies in promoting FOSS in the government itself. We would like to highlight the reception to these programs.

• Open infrastructures for open access
  Speaker: Michel Bauwens, P2P Foundation
  Abstract: Open access is not just open access to science and scholarship, but to all information which can make contemporary citizens autonomously productive. Hence it expands from open knowledge to open code, and from open code to open and shared design. The new values of openness and transparency are being embedded, not without struggle and resistance, into an increasing number of collaborative infrastructures, which take open access as the default option, which we will review in this presentation. It also finds expression in social charters defending particular commons, as for example expressed in the Barcelona Charter. We will attempt an integrative approach to the different expressions of A2K across the board.

• Mapping A2K Advocacy
  Speaker: Eddan Katz, EFF
  Abstract: Access to Knowledge (A2K) is about intellectual property (IP), but it is about a lot more than that. It is about the new wealth generated in the transition to a global knowledge economy and the democratizing freedoms enabled by the information society. A2K is information policy rooted in human development and human rights and also in the demands of social justice, distributive equality, and identity politics. A2K is also a positive public interest agenda that affirms social norms and production models facilitating peer collaboration and democratic participation. There are groups identified with A2K that advocate for international and domestic legal reform enabling flexibility for countries in various stages of economic development with different cultural contexts. Licensing frameworks for the dissemination of various kinds of knowledge to build the information commons is an important focus of A2K solutions. A2K suggests a new narrative about globalization revealed in the direction and control of information flows in science, education, culture, and other areas of knowledge. It is the normative foundation of an information age conscious of the social responsibility embedded in our technological infrastructures. This essay is an attempt to make sense of A2K from the policy level, in the networks of movements for whom the idea of A2K resonates.

• African Copyright and A2K (ACA2K) Project: Egypt's Report
  Speaker: Dr Perihan Abou Zeid, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt
  Abstract: Dr Zeid will introduce the ACA2K project, which aims to probe the relation between copyright law and access to knowledge with regard to education and learning materials. Working with the ACA2K project are 30 experts in 8 countries: Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Kenya.

Sponsors

Consumers International acknowledges the kind support of the following institutions:

• Ford Foundation [11], the primary funder of our A2K programme including this meeting;
• Open Society Institute [12], which funds the IP Watch List and access barrier survey; and
• Centre for Internet and Society India [13], for its special additional sponsorship of the meeting.