On the 7th of July 2010 in Tashkent USA Embassy was held 5th video conference devoted to questions of copyright, were took part many information librarian and resource centers.
Video conference was held by professor of Columbia University Kenneth Crews.
Professor Crews has rich academic and professional experience, which he uses in his activity. His main interest was influence copyright on needs of nigh education. His first book devoted to copyright was “Copyright, honest use and objects for universities: advancement of progress in high education’. This book was published in 1993 and become the foundation for review of the definition of copyright and policy in university. One of the last his book is “The Law about copyright for librarian and teachers”, published in 2006 and appeared as practical source of understanding the copyright.

On video conference were considered next questions:
1. International framework of the law “About copyrights”
• Berne Convention
• The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
2. The role of libraries in the law “about copyrights”
3. The role of librarian exclusions
4. Research of World Intellectual Properties Organization (WIPO)
5. The law about Copyright in Republic of Uzbekistan

Nowadays the questions about copyrights are very actual in Uzbekistan. Creating new librarian funds it is necessary to take in account an increasing amount of the pirated copies, unauthorized usage of information without copyright indication, breaking the regulative documents concerning intellectual properties and copyright.
Professor Crews noticed that besides premeditated cheating we face with copyright break connected with lack of knowledge in legislative foundation by librarians.
Today the author has copyright during his life and 50 years after his death, then it becomes public property. However, it is planned to increase this time till 70 years.
In 2005 Uzbekistan joined to Berne Convention, which is the first international agreement in copyright field. It gave an advance for ‘national approach’ to foreign materials, clearing the copyright standards up.
Also on this conference professor Crews explained the structure of the copyright law, conception, essence and diversity of ‘librarian exclusions’. Moreover, there were considered copyrights in Uzbekistan and problems concerning this question, such as “legal author interests”, “normal usage of production, what percentage can be used, is it allowed to reproduce via IT. In conclusion to videoconference there were given alternatives to “honest usage” of information due to regulative document, court interpreting etc.

 

Reference for additional information:
• Berne Convention and WIPO http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en
• Research of WIPO: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details/jsp?doc_id=109192
• Uzbek agency about copyrights: http://www.uzraap.uz/ • WTO and TRIPs http://www.wto.int/english/docs_e/legal_e/legal_e.htm