Digital Rights Ireland

WIPO Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Orgainisations: Update

October 20th, 2006

The WIPO broadcast treaty (or Treaty on the protection of broadcasters, as is its official title) seems to have gone into retreat for the time being. The WIPO General Assemblies did not rubber stamp the recommendation to convene a diplomatic conference (to finalise the treaty). Instead, two meetings of the copyright committee (SCCR) will be held in January and June 2007 to revise the current treaty draft.

A diplomatic conference will be convened in November/December 2007 only if agreement is reached on amending the present draft to reflect a signal-based approach, the objectives, scope and object of protection of the proposed treaty. This means that the GA 2007 will have the opportunity to discuss it again and leaves open the possibility that the Diplomatic Conference may not be convened if there is no agreement.

Entry Filed under: DRI, WIPO