Copyright Registies have historically provided authors and other rightholders some useful tools that granted legal certainty not only to creators but also to those who later on exploited their creations. The importance and legal strength of these registries have progressed throughout the years and territories, with countries with a mandatory system of work registration, while in others the work was deemed protected with its mere creation.
It is undoubtedly that these registries provide security to third parties and precise information about the right owners of an artistic work, while permit the creator to have a valid proof suitable to be used on trial. Registries are specially useful in the digital age where anybody can become a creator, and where the easy dissemination of a work uploaded on the Internet facilitate infringers to plagiarize third parties' works. These registries, whether they are public or private, are equally important for preserving our artistic and cultural heritage through the maintenance of a rich database that, if desired by the rightholders, could be accessed by anyone in the world.
Nowadays, thanks to the universality of the Berne Convention and to the new technologies, the use of Copyright Registries has increased, provoking at the same time the establishment of organizations that provide this same service with a strong support on technologies and secure protocols. This proliferation of new registries creates new problems and needs, including the necessity of approving protocols that standardize the way these registries inscribe, categorize and tag the works entering their systems. Unfortunately, practically each registry have, in these days, its own registration system, which create incompatibility and a lack of interoperability between them.
In this regard, the Open Standards for Copyright Registries Interoperability Group (OSCRI) appears to be a platform for the study and development of standardisation rules and protocols in the Copyright field, with the main aim of creating a scenario where all copyright registries are compatible between each other.
Declaration of Intent
Considering Copyright needs tools and initiatives that contribute to content dissemination and exploitation drawing the context of Information Society, protecting both interests of rightholders and users.
Considering the role of Copyright Registries in this field, not only for preserving our artistic and cultural heritage recording the basic facts of a particular copyright, but also fostering its access guaranteeing suitable protection for the implied parts: creators, rightholders and users.
Considering standardisation and the following cross recognition of Copyright Registries would benefit access and identification of works and their rightholders, specially through Internet.
Considering this context requires the involvement of all stakeholders, from public or private registries to licensing systems, content providers, organisations and international or national bodies on the field of Copyright, standardization initiatives and bodies, industry representatives and civil society.
We propose:
The creation of The Open Standards for Copyright Registry Interoperability Group (OSCRI), as a platform that responds to the above mentioned needs. The aim of this group is to prepare the structure of an independent body for the analysis and development of standards for Copyright Registries, on the basis of the following principles:
- Open to everyone, independent, neutral and globally focused,
- Considering the existing initiatives or projects currently observing and developing standards in the copyright field,
- Looking for synergies between copyright stakeholders, and respecting interests and needs of all of them.
So, in this initial phase, the promoters launch this proposal looking for its dissemination and wider participation as possible.
If you need more information, keep in touch or want to join us, please contact us.
