APLA has joined the Canadian Library Association and other provincial library associations in supporting A Fair Deal’s Open Letter on Copyright Term Extensions. The Fair Deal campaign is about keeping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from changing our copyright laws.

The TPP is proposing the extension of copyright terms in many countries, including Canada, by an additional 20 years. The current copyright term in Canada is the life of the author plus 50 years. After this term, the work enters the Public Domain (i.e. becomes available for public use). We agree that changes to copyright required by the TPP would reduce our access to information and restrict our ability to innovate, both on and offline.

If you are concerned about an international agreement that would change Canada’s copyright laws, visit www.ourfairdeal.org to sign the statement “Please reject copyright proposals that restrict the open Internet, access to knowledge, economic opportunity and our fundamental rights.”

 

 

Crystal Rose, APLA President