On July 31, 2013, the U.S. Department of Commerce released a green paper entitled “Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy.” The green paper discusses the goals of maintaining an appropriate balance between rights and exceptions under U.S. copyright law, particularly in the context of the Internet and in view of the substantial economic impact of copyright-intensive industries. The report was issued by the Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force (IPTF) with input from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
According to the green paper, industries that rely on copyrights are integral to the U.S. economy, accounting for millions of jobs and contributing billions of dollars to GDP. In exploring the balancing of copyright protection with the free flow of information, the green paper addresses topics that include: rights of performance and reproduction for digital works; various exceptions to infringement liability; specific challenges to maintaining meaningful and protectable rights in the online environment, as well as potential new tools and technologies; and furthering the development of a more efficient online marketplace.
Click here for a U.S. Department of Commerce press release.
Click here to access the full report.