STANDING COMMITTEE ON COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS (SCCR)
Background
“The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) was set up in the 1998-1999 biennium to examine substantive law topics in the field of copyright and related rights. The Committee includes all member states of WIPO and/or of the Berne Union; and, as observers, certain member states of the United Nations (UN) that are non-members of WIPO and/or the Berne Union, as well as many intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations”.1
The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) has traditionally focused on two standing agenda items: the protection of broadcasting organizations and limitations and exceptions. Discussions on broadcasting date back to 1998, while work on limitations and exceptions has been ongoing since 2004, addressing areas such as libraries, archives, museums, education, research, and persons with disabilities. In parallel, discussions on copyright in the digital environment have expanded, including issues related to artificial intelligence and remuneration for online uses. Other topics, such as artist resale rights and the rights of theatre directors, remain on the agenda but receive limited attention.
Next Meeting (Forty-Seventh Session):
Date: December 1 to December 5, 2025
Website: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=88928
Agenda (SCCR/47/1):
- Opening of the session
- Adoption of the agenda of the forty-seventh session
- Accreditation of new non-governmental organizations
- Election of officers
- Protection of broadcasting organizations
- Limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives
- Limitations and exceptions for educational and research institutions and for persons with other disabilities
- Other matters
- Proposal for Analysis of Copyright Related to the Digital Environment
- Proposal from Senegal and Congo to include the Resale Right (droit de suite) in the Agenda of Future Work by the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights of the World Intellectual Property Organization
- Proposal on the Part of the Russian Federation With Regard to Strengthening the Protection of Theatre Directors’ Rights at the International Level
- Proposal for a Study on the Rights of Audiovisual Authors and their Payment Mechanisms for the Exploitation of their Works
- Proposal for a Study on the Rights of Audiovisual Performers and their Payment Mechanisms for the Exploitation of their Performances
- Proposal for a Study on Copyright Protection of Technical Standards
- Any other matters
- Closing of session
Key Issues:
- Broadcasting: Discussions continue on a potential treaty, with recent draft texts reflecting incremental changes.
- Limitations and exceptions: Multiple proposals have been considered regarding the development of international instruments. Discussions remain ongoing, with differing views on the form and content of possible outcomes.
- Copyright in the digital environment: Proposals have been made to establish this as a standing agenda item, addressing issues such as artificial intelligence and remuneration for digital uses. While not yet formalized, related activities have expanded, including the approval of studies on AI training and audiovisual authors.
- Artificial intelligence and copyright: Ongoing discussions address the relationship between copyright and AI training, including the scope of permitted uses, the role of exceptions, and the conditions under which remuneration may be required.
References:
- Draft WIPO Broadcasting Organizations Treaty, SCCR 47, https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=650808
- Proposal on Limitations and Exceptions, Africa Group, https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=651312
- Work Program on L&E (Approved by committee), https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/en/sccr_43/sccr_43_8_rev.pdf
- Proposal for a Study on the Rights of Audiovisual Performers and their Payment Mechanisms for the Exploitation of their Performances, https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=650850
