Jisc supports Hargreaves recommendations for better intellectual property framework
Jisc welcomes Professor Ian Hargreaves’ independent review of the UK’s intellectual property (IP) framework as a positive step towards easy, widespread access to information and resources.
Dr Malcolm Read, Jisc executive secretary, says: “We support the key findings in the report which we anticipate will help optimise the impact of UK research and enable our world class universities to fully contribute towards innovation and growth.
“Jisc has consistently advocated a more liberal, ‘open’ IP framework that can support innovative uses of digital assets. For universities and colleges the following exceptions (below) are crucial as they will allow for and encourage digitization, preservation, access and re-use of digital content as well as supporting research and learning,” he said.
- Exception for preservation
For universities and colleges to effectively have long-term access to electronic materials, the format-shifting and non-commercial use exceptions are vital. This supports a general transition to e-only services giving users anytime anywhere access and freeing up space and resources.
- Exception for text mining
Text mining allows researchers to extract and manipulate information and data from a range of sources. The change would have an enormous effect on the range and capability of UK research.
- Orphan Works provision
Orphan works are those for which the rights holder is unknown or cannot be traced. Enabling people to access and re-use these works would support teaching, learning and research immeasurably. Potentially this would encourage mass digitisation of digital content on which services and innovation can be built.
- Ensuring that copyright exceptions cannot be over-ridden by contract law
Currently, contracts can be used to override exceptions to copyright. Enshrining the exceptions in law will future proof the implementation of new proposed copyright exceptions and protect the current exceptions, supporting further innovation and growth.
- Building an exception into EU framework to facilitate adaptability to new technologies
This new exception future-proofs developments in new technology to make sure that that harmonised exceptions across Europe remain relevant.
How can Jisc help?
Jisc has developed a number of tools, funded projects and services to support researchers, teachers and learners within the current IP framework:
General IP advice and guidance
Open education resources IPR support
Advice on managing orphan works
Legal advice on IPR and all aspects of technology use
National Centre for Text mining (NACTEM)
Other recommended exceptions which Jisc welcomes include the exceptions for parody and format shifting as well as extending the exception for non commercial research to all media.
UK colleges and universities contribute towards innovation and economic growth as part of a wider, rapidly evolving and complex eco-system which includes a spectrum of new and emergent business relationships and models. In particular, recent studies have valued universities’ knowledge exchange income (mainly patents) at £3 billion (2008/09) and the Universities UK report, The impact of universities on the UK economy, states that they contributed £59 billion to the UK economy in 2009.
Jisc welcomes the full implementation of the recommendations outlined within the Hargreaves Review of IP to provide a basis for UK innovation, education and research with unprecedented opportunities to compete internationally in a fast moving digital age.
Paul Ayris is president of the association of European research libraries, LIBER, and director of University College London library services as well as being UCL’s copyright officer. He says: “These exceptions provide a robust basis for UK education and research to support the UK’s economic growth and innovation, digital literacy, the preservation of vulnerable materials and unlocking digital access to a wealth of vital cultural heritage content currently warehoused as orphan works. Moreover, the applications of text mining, which are immense and varied can be better harnessed by UK education and research, speeding up science and innovation and allowing UK’s universities and colleges to work more efficiently.”
Download the Hargreaves report (PDF)
Jisc was invited to contribute to the report. Read the document we sent Professor Hargreaves(PDF)