Detailed consultation on copyright law on track
The Committee for Science, Education and Culture of the Council of States (WBK-S) is in favor of approving the revision of copyright law, with one abstention and no votes against.
According to a press release from the Federal Administration, the National Council dealt with the bill to revise the Copyright Act and to approve and implement two World Intellectual Property Organization treaties in the 2018 winter session. For the Council of States as the second chamber, the WBK has now started the preliminary consultation and held a hearing with the following organizations: swissuniversities, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV), Working Group on the Protection of Photographs, Alliance of Consumer Protection Organizations, Cooperative Society of Authors and Publishers of Music (SUISA), Interest Group Radio and Television (IRF) and Association for Communication Networks (SUISSEDIGITAL).
The focus was placed on open access in science, the protection of photographs without individual character, the regulation of video-on-demand, time-shifted television and remuneration for hotels, vacation homes, hospitals and prisons. In the subsequent entry debate, the committee underlined the need to modernize the Copyright Act and accepted the Federal Council's proposal by 11 votes to 0 with one abstention. The detailed discussion will take place at the next committee meeting on February 12, 2019.
