The need to raise awareness of the issues surrounding copyright, publisher licences and other legal issues is being taken seriously by CLM, the Committee on Copyright and Legal Matters. The Committee had already produced an IFLA Position on Copyright in the Digital Environment, and this was approved and formally adopted by the IFLA Executive Board during the Jerusalem Conference. This important document, setting out IFLA’s position in the copyright debate, is available on the CLM pages of the IFLA website, and is reproduced in the green news section of the IFLA Journal.

CLM has also been working on developing a set of licensing principles, to support libraries in developing contractual relationships and written contracts with information providers. Final adjustments were made to the list of 26 key points during the CLM business meetings in Jerusalem, and it is hoped that the principles will be approved by the Executive Board in December.

CLM members were also very busy throughout the Conference week, informing delegates about various aspects of copyright and related rights. A well-attended session on public lending right presented descriptions and discussions of four very different public lending right systems, highlighting the benefits or otherwise of the various systems. Another session, held jointly with FAIFE (Freedom on Access to Information and Freedom of Expression) addressed "challenges to equitable and universal access", in particular the challenges of illiteracy, censorship, copyright and technology. The CLM open forum considered the potential effects of international trade agreements as developed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in particular the General Agreement on Trade in Services which has particular implications for libraries. A paper was also presented on Copyright in Central and Eastern Europe.

As part of a continuing effort to inform library staff about the importance of copyright and to enable discussion of the challenges surrounding copyright issues in the electronic arena, a workshop held jointly with the Section on University Libraries presented a range of papers on the future of copyright management.

CLM carries out its activities through a number of small working groups, with administrative support from the CLM Secretariat based in the UAP Core Programme Office. There is currently no representation on CLM from South America or from the Arab world, and the CLM Chair would be pleased to hear from anyone with experience in copyright matters interested in joining from these areas. Many of the presented papers from CLM sessions in Jerusalem are available on the CLM pages on the IFLA website, and further information about the work of CLM can be obtained from the Chair, Marianne Scott, at mfscott@home.com.