ARL, as a member of the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA), engages on a number of international copyright and intellectual property issues. In addition, ARL monitors Canadian copyright issues via the activities of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL).
Library Copyright Alliance (LCA)
International Trade Agreements
ARL is involved in international policymaking, including in multilateral fora such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). ARL has engaged negotiators, delivered presentations, and submitted comments on a number of trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation, Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), and Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). More information on these international agreements can be found on the LCA website.
Marrakesh Treaty
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled is a WIPO-based treaty adopted in June 2013. The treaty entered into force in September 2016 after twenty countries ratified the treaty. The Marrakesh Treaty provides for obligations for member states to have minimum limitations and exceptions to copyright to allow the creation and distribution of accessible format works and also to permit cross-border sharing of these formats.
The National Implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty document compiles the known implementing legislation for countries who have ratified or acceded to the treaty. This is intended to be a living document that will be updated as new countries ratify, additional implementing language is found, or improved translations are provided.
Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)
The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) is the leadership organization for the Canadian research library community. As an organization incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, CARL coordinates the joint initiatives of our members and advances their causes to achieve excellence in Canadian research and higher education. The Association’s members are the 29 major academic research libraries across Canada together with two national memory organizations.
Additional Resources
Joint Statement Supporting US Ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty
Agreed Statements Concerning the WIPO Copyright Treaty
