Negotiators from nine countries are meeting on July 2-10 in San Diego to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The TPPA is a multilateral trade agreement between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Vietnam, Malaysia, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Peru and Singapore, covering all aspects of commercial relations between the countries.
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), along with organisations representing the library community in some of the countries participating in the TPPA, have expressed concern that the TPPA's extensive intellectual property chapter does not reflect the balance necessary to protect the public domain and the ways in which society may access and use content. Presently, exceptions to copyright protection are said to be noticeably absent from leaked drafts of this ‘gold standard' IP agreement for the 21st century.
As with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which has been rejected by the European Parliament, library groups have reportedly been concerned throughout the TPPA negotiations, regarding the lack of transparency related to its procedures, provisions and priorities.
IFLA, alongside nine other library organisations, has issued a statement on the TPPA which outlines its concerns. The statement also reiterates the role libraries play in fostering equitable access to information and cultural expression, while ensuring that the interests of creators are respected and protected.
