In April 2024 the SCCR meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) takes place. On that occasion the Secretary General of the EWC European Writers‘ Council, Ms. Nicole Pfister Fetz, will comment on the presented Scoping Study on Public Lending Right, prepared by Ms. Sabine Richly for WIPO.

“The European Writers’ Council is grateful to Ms. Sabine Richly for her ‘Scoping Study on Public Lending Right’, and express its thankfulness to WIPO and to the Member States Sierra Leone, Malawi and Panama for bringing forward the topic on how a remunerated Public Lending Right across the globe protects writers, fosters libraries, and promotes literacy.

This balanced comparative Study proves the effectiveness of PLR systems, and how they can be adapted to national cultural aims and existing legal frameworks. The Study drafts solutions for the necessary equitable remuneration of writers, visual artists, translators and other rightsholders.

We welcome Mrs Richly’s practical suggestions for countries with PLR, to examine and improve their system where applicable, such as empirical studies like IT supported data collection of lending statistics, like the economic impact of lending on the primary market, or a monitoring of income sources of the book sector, to support governments in adjusting appropriate funding, and to enable the mutual understanding among all stakeholders.

As the Scoping Study is not meant to form a binding legal instrument but to provide interested countries guidance for tailor-made PLR, the EWC hopes, that further activities include frequent capacity building, such as regional seminars, focus workshops, or collaboration with advisory pools.”

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