Establishing a level playing field

AUT and CVCP discuss copyright to avoid future disputes About 200 amendments have been filed so far to a European directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society, which could threaten the right of academics to use photocopied material.

The directive, proposed by the European Commission and now being discussed by the European Parliament and Council, is designed to establish"a level playing field"in Europe for newproducts and services involving intellectual property.

But lecturers and librarians are concerned that it may restrict use of material now taken for granted in teaching and research.

Lecturers are also worried that while exceptions are made for using copyrighted material to help people with certain disabilities, such as hearing difficulties, no exception has been made for people with learning difficulties, such as dyslexics.