Copyright in a Global Context: Current Threats and Emerging Issues at London Book Fair
Copyright laws and intellectual property rights (IPR) varies in different countries.
How is the legislation changing across the world, with legal challenges on different continents? What are the expectations of the industry? What can the industry do to encourage free expression and copyright? Copyright Exhaustion – what does mean for the industry?
From intellectual property framework copyright agreements in a post-Brexit Britain, to new regulations currently impacting South Africa and in this region.
Chair:
Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives
Porter Anderson BA, MA, MFA, is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives, the daily news medium of Frankfurter Buchmesse for the world publishing industry. Anderson is a veteran newsman with Warner Bros. Discovery’s CNN, CNN.com, and CNN International–as well as the Village Voice, the Dallas Times Herald, The Bookseller and others. He was named London Book Fair’s International Trade Press Journalist in the 2019 International Excellence Awards. In addition to his career in news, Anderson has worked as a diplomat with the United Nations, posted to the Rome headquarters of the World Food Programme. He has also served as Executive Media Producer of INDEX: Design to Improve life, the Danish award for humanitarian design under the patronage of HRH Frederik, Prince of Denmark. Anderson is a frequent speaker on the international publishing stage, in trade shows and book-fair settings in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East.
Panelists:
Dan Conway, CEO, Publishers Association
Dan became CEO of the Publishers Association in 2022, having previously been the membership organisation’s Director of External Affairs and leading the team responsible for policy, public affairs, communications, media relations, research & statistics. Alongside his role at the Publishers Association, he is a Board Trustee for World Book Day, and Non-Executive Director at Publishers’ Licensing Services.
Brian Wafawarowa, President, Publishers Association South Africa
Brian Wafawarowa is the CEO at Juta & Company and president of the Publishers Association of South Africa. He serves on the board of the Dramatic Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation and is a trustee of the Nick Perren Foundation, which sponsors students for university studies in publishing.
Brian was the Learning Services executive at Pearson; founder and managing director of New Africa Books; executive director of PASA; executive chairman of Cape Town Book Fair; chairperson of the African Publishers Network; member of the Africa Publishing Innovation Fund Committee and a member of the International Publishers Association executive committee, where he chaired the Inclusive Publishing and Literacy Committee. He served on the board of the Fibre, Processing & Manufacturing sector education authority, a national board responsible for training and development for publishing and related industries in South Africa. Brian is involved in several training and policy initiatives.
Maria A. Pallante, President and Chief Executive, Association of American Publishers
Maria A. Pallante has served as President and Chief Executive of the Association of American Publishers since 2017. Working with her talented team, she leads public policy, information, and litigation priorities in support of the modern publishing industry, with a particular focus on content protections, freedom of expression, and digital markets.
Ms. Pallante was previously Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, where she modernized the agency’s regulatory practices; worked closely with Congress on gaps in the law, including author protections and Internet policy; and represented the United States on treaty and diplomatic delegations. Earlier, she was IP counsel and head of licensing with the worldwide Guggenheim Museums; counsel with the Authors Guild; and a lawyer in private practice. Ms. Pallante serves on several boards and professional committees and has delivered a number of prominent legal lectures throughout her career.
Isobel Dixon, President, Association of Authors’ Agent