Talk:Free Knowledge Advocacy Group EU statement of intent

Introduction

In November representatives from five European Wikimedia chapters – WMDE, WMUK, WMSE, WMNL and WMBE – met to discuss the possibility of working together on a piece of advocacy promoting change to EU legislation related to open access and copyright. Subject to respective board approvals the chapters agreed to work together under the banner of “Free Knowledge Advocacy Group EU”.

The meeting resulted in the collaborative creation of a statement of intent (see the main page), outlining the three areas we would like to focus on, namely Freedom of panorama, public domain for public works, and the right to use orphan works.

Making the case

There are a few reasons why we believe this to be a positive course of action. If the changes outlined in the statement are successfully brought to fruition then there is great potential for the enrichment of Wikimedia projects with significant cultural and educational resources. The project could significantly raise the profile of Wikimedia chapters among those people who form policy and have influence in the cultural arena. And of course this type of cross-chapter collaboration is precisely the sort of thing that chapters are are well equipped to do.

Next steps

There are a series of actions that the group intends to take leading up to the Chapters Meeting in April in Berlin. These are:

1. We will develop a pool of experts in this area who are able to speak with authority on the legal and copyright issues involved. The WMUK Chair, Michael Maggs, has agreed to join this pool to share his legal & IP knowledge as a recently-retired patent attorney. Others may also be appropriate.
2. We will develop a shared database of contacts who are in positions of influence in our own countries, such as MEPs. Other open access-related groups will be included here.
3. 23rd April is World Book and Copyright Day. Some press activity under the joint umbrella of the Free Knowledge Advocacy Group and the Wikimedia Chapters is suggested to promote the issue and press for appropriate change.
4. Work is now in progress on encouraging other chapters within the EU to join the group, and we are hopeful of having 12 chapter signatures by the Wikimedia Chapters Meeting in April.

At a later stage the intention is to invite other organisations working to promote open access and open knowledge to join.

Board approvals

The statement has been shared with the respective chapter boards, and has so far been formally signed by WMSE, WMNL and WMFR. It is currently before the boards of WMDE and WMUK.

WMAT has also signed the statement. They are the first non-draftee chapter to do so.

Proposed approval by WMUK

The statement of intent was discussed at the the WMUK board meeting of 8th December (the minutes of which will be put on the wiki shortly), and the board was strongly supportive of this inter-chapter initiative. It has indicated its provisional willingness to sign, subject only to a period of community consultation. WMF staff are supportive.

The board is satisfied that there are no legal, contractual or other issues that would prevent us as a charity and Wikimedia chapter from undertaking this type of advocacy and taking a position on the inadequacies of copyright law as it currently exists in the EU.

Community discussion now open until 23rd December

We would like to hear whether you agree with the board that signing this statement of intent would advance our charitable aims and would be in the best interests of Wikimedia UK and the international Wikimedia movement.

Please focus the discussion on the statement as it stands, as the text has been agreed by five chapter representatives and would be very difficult to change.

This community consultation will run until 23rd December. If there are no material community objections the statement will be treated as having been approved and signed on the date of the board meeting, namely 8th December. If material objections are raised, the board will review them and will reconsider the charity's position shortly after Christmas. Stevie Benton (WMUK) (talk) 13:05, 11 December 2013 (UTC)

Discussion

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