This SCCR is back as a five-day event, following the previous 3-day mini SCCR 44, with the usual agenda items (broadcasting, exceptions and limitations, and ‘other matters’) on the table, with a special information session on artificial intelligence taking place in ‘other matters.’ The provisional program for that session is available here.
The war in Ukraine dominated the early exchanges before the agenda was adopted. New SCCR Chair Adriana Moscoso (Spain), succeeding Owen Ripley (Canada), with Vanessa Cohen (Costa Rica) and Peter Labody (Hungary) as Vice-Chairs will guide the week’s discussions. Moscoso and Cohen will swap roles for SCCR meetings in 2025, meaning the next two years of SCCR will be chaired by women for the first time.
Thursday afternoon will be dedicated to a special information session on Artificial Intelligence and Copyright as part of the ‘Other Matters’ agenda item.
Non-governmental organisations were granted observer accreditation before WIPO Deputy Director General for Copyright, Sylvie Forbin, delivered her welcoming remarks noting the carbon footprint of such meetings that bring delegates together from around the world, and that the environmental impact should be a further incentive to ensure these meetings are effective and make progress.
Regional groups and Member States then shared their views on the week’s agenda. All were unanimous in thanking the secretariat for all its work preparing the meeting. On the substantive topics, the Africa Group expressed its disappointment that the secretariat’s detailed implementation plan for the Work Program on Exceptions and Limitations adopted at SCCR/43 was “not in conformity with the workplan”. The group felt that its own draft implementation plan was more aligned. Brazil suggested that, after 25 years, the Broadcasting Treaty should be taken off SCCR agenda and when speaking about remuneration suggested the Committee dedicate discussion time to this topic ‘if the SCCR wishes to remain relevant for the present and the future.’
Broadcasting Treaty discussions opened with facilitators Dr. Hezekiel Oira and Jukka Liedes presenting the updates to the Third Revised Draft Text for the WIPO Broadcasting Organizations Treaty (document SCCR/44/3). They concluded just before lunch with the ongoing discussions moving to informal meetings away from the plenary chamber. This means that the plenary chamber falls quiet as observers can listen in but not relay any information on the discussions.
The first side-event of SCCR 45 was organized by The International Trademark Association (INTA), titled Beyond the Lines, Shaping Tomorrow’s Copyright Landscape.
The afternoon continued with the informal discussions on the Broadcasting Treaty which went through to the close of the day and just a little beyond.
The first two members of IPA’s delegation have already arrived, with Egyptian publisher, and new IPA Executive Committee member, Ahmed Rashad, joining IPA President, Karine Pansa. IPA’s delegation had the opportunity to meet with WIPO representatives and officials, as well Member State representatives and ambassadors.
Tomorrow will see the conclusion of discussions on the Broadcasting Treaty and move on to the Limitations and Exceptions session of the agenda as well as two side events, one at lunchtime organised by The International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) on Leveraging Exclusive Rights to Finance International Film & TV Co-productions, and an evening screening of the award-winning film “The Society of the Snow” directed by J.A. Bayona.