This year, IAF attended the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) World Congress in Edinburgh.
IAF was happy to see IFRRO adopt a resolution opposing Controlled Digital Lending (CDL). CDL is a major issue for authors who risk seeing exceptions on copyright overstretched for uses of their work without remuneration or consent. IAF co-signed the appeal to readers and librarians from the victims of CDL earlier this year.
At the IFRRO International Conference, we had the opportunity to hear talks covering a range of subjects including the impact of research data on development and the potential for improving research opportunities in developing countries. The possibilities of blockchain also had multiple events, explaining the technology and what it could mean for the creative industries. Professor Tanya Aplin, Professor of Intellectual Property Law at King’s College London, presented on the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for copyright, making the case that the copyright framework which focuses on human authors should be careful of hindering the creation of AI-generated works. Journalist Cherie Hu gave a presentation that considered gamification, a concept that is not often discussed but is surely built into many of the services users interact with day-to-day.
In partnership with the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS, UK), IAF hosted a reception at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to highlight the issues authors face. Together we presented the work of IAF at WIPO, campaigns artists’ remuneration and upcoming IAF working groups. We look forward to the opportunity to share our work with the IFRRO membership at the next World Congress in 2020.