Did you say ode?: Copy Party press release

Intellectual property law is slightly different in France and in the UK, but here is an interesting event designed as an awareness campaign for copyright.

The text below is my own quick translation of the press release - please be indulgent! The original text, and more information and links, can be found at: http://blogs.iutlaroche.univ-nantes.fr/copy-party/2012/02/09/communique-presse (in French)

"WHAT IS A COPY-PARTY? It is an event allowing users equipped with scanners, phones or laptops to bring these devices and copy books, CDs and DVDs from library collections!

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN A COPY-PARTY?

- These copies must be for private use only;

- each person must make their own copies using their own replication devices (camera, mobile phone, etc.);

- the copies must be made from original documents viewed in a library;

- the act of copying must not break any technical protection (DRM).

WHAT IS THE AIM OF A COPY-PARTY? Via an act that is symbolic, militant and festive, the aim is to:

- make users aware of copyright law and the right to a private copy as well as of today's issues related to sharing works;

- attract attention to the interest and the role of libraries in the diffusion, joint use and access to knowledge in the 21st century;

- question local and national authorities on the development of criminalization policies of digital practices and on the urgent matter of maintaining a free movement of information within a lawful offer.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE?

A bit of equipment. Your choice of a smartphone equipped with a camera and/or an app allowing you to scan documents, and/or a laptop with a scanner and/or a digital camera, some blank DVDs if you wish to copy DVDs.

And a bit of commitment: when you arrive, you will have to sign a document stating that you are committed to only reuse the product of this copy-party in accordance with copyright law, for your strict personal use.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF A COPY-PARTY? 100% legal

- The contracts between libraries and copyright holders, which allow works to be put on public display on the libraries' shelves;

- the exception for performance within the family circle, set out in paragraph 1 of article L122-5 of the CPI [Intellectual Property law];

- the new rewrite of paragraph 2 of the same article L122-5 of the CPI on the exception for private copy;

- the rules and regulations of the library.

WHEN IS THE 1ST COPY-PARTY? On 7th March 2012. At 6pm. At the University Library of La Roche sur Yon (France). A world first, quite simply."