Free WIPO Global Database on Intellectual Property Law

I learned today that the World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialized Agency of the United Nations, maintains WIPO Lex, a free database with information on international IP treaties as well as laws and regulations of some 200 countries.

According to an explanation on the website:

"WIPO Lex aims to achieve the objective set forth in Article 4(vi) of the WIPO Convention, that is, WIPO 'shall assemble and disseminate information concerning the protection of intellectual property, carry out and promote studies in this field, and publish the results of such studies.' WIPO Lex covers all WIPO Member States (...)"

"WIPO Lex also covers IP legal information of the Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in accordance with the Agreement between WIPO and WTO of December 22, 1995, which provides for the WTO Secretariat to transmit to the International Bureau of WIPO, a copy of the laws and regulations received by the WTO Secretariat from WTO Members under Article 63.2 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights."

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Book Reviews to Appear on Slaw

Slaw.ca, one of Canada's major legal blog sites, will soon start reprinting book reviews from the Canadian Law Library Review (CLLR).

CLLR is the journal of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries.

As Slaw publisher Steve Matthews writes:

"The reviews, which are penned by legal information professionals from across the country, cover both practice-oriented and academic publications related to the law. Published quarterly, the CLLR is CALL/ACBD’s official journal and became an open access publication earlier this year. These reviews will be a valuable addition to Slaw, and are sure to be of great interest and service to our readers."

Supreme Court of Canada Calendar of November 2018 Hearings

The Supreme Court of Canada has published its calendar of appeals that will be heard from November 5 to November 16, 2018.

To find out more about any particular case, click on the docket number in parentheses next to each case name to find docket information, case summaries as well as facta from the parties.

Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide Now On CanLII

The Canadian Legal Research and Writing Guide, which used to be known as the Best Guide to Canadian Legal Research, has been added to the ever-growing commentary section of the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).

CanLII is a portal funded by Canada’s provincial and territorial law societies to make legal information content (court judgments, tribunal decisions, statutes and regulations, commentary) available to Canadians free of charge.

According to the CanLII blog:

"Catherine Best created the website version of the Guide over her almost 30 year career as a research lawyer. Her expertise in researching complex legal issues and teaching legal research and writing have translated into a quality guide that has been helping researchers effectively use online tools for 20 years. When Catherine Best retired in 2015, she generously donated the site to CanLII."

CanLII already publishes law reviews, reports, newsletters and case commentaries.

Canadian Law Librarian Salary Survey

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries and the Toronto Association of Law Libraries have teamed up to create a joint salary survey:

"The purpose of this survey is to determine benchmark employment remuneration received by members of the Toronto Association of Law Libraries (TALL) and the Canadian Association of Law Libraries/Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit(CALL/ACBD).

Before you start:

• The survey will remain open for two weeks from October 24-November 7 inclusive. By clicking on the link to proceed you are confirming that you have read this notice and have agreed to participate.
• The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. It is completely voluntary and can be completed any time during the survey period.
• Data for each question will only be used if six or more responses to that question are received.
• The survey is anonymous and personal data cannot be tied to individual responders.  The server where results are stored is based in Canada.
• Tabulated results of this survey will be available via the public facing CALL/ACBD and TALL websites in 2019."

Call for Nominations: Library Journal Movers & Shakers 2019

You have until November 2, 2018 to nominate people for recognition as library world Movers & Shakers 2019:

"The editors of Library Journal need your help identifying the emerging leaders in the library world. Movers & Shakers profiles 50 or more up-and-coming, innovative, creative individuals from around the world--both great leaders and behind-the-scenes contributors--who are providing inspiration and model programs for others. "

Most winners are from the USA (as befits an American publication) but there were two Canadians honoured in 2018: Jenny Ryan from the Saskatoon Public Library and Dayna Hart from Constable Neil Bruce Middle School, West Kelowna, BC.

The publication provides a map of all the Movers and Shakers from 2002 to 2018.

CanLII Adds 8000 Cases from the Canadian Criminal Cases Reports

CanLII, the freely accessible website of the Canadian Legal Information Institute, has added 8,000 cases from the caselaw reporter Canadian Criminal Cases.

The earliest case dates back to 1898.

"A word about our approach: to strategically build CanLII’s caselaw databases we reviewed our content to identify which reporters are most cited. First came the Supreme Court Reports (SCR), followed by the Dominion Law Reports (DLR), and then the Canadian Criminal Cases. We already added the cases from the SCRs, and we completed a similar project to add the cited cases from the DLRs in 2016."

"Similarly to the DLR project, we published the documents using our innovative PDF format, powered by Lexum technology. This allows for the documents to be uploaded at a low cost while maintaining virtually all the same functionalities as HTML (...)
"This is a big step towards making the law that matters to Canadian legal researchers available. It will better integrate key cases into the research process on CanLII with digital features such as linked citations and full text searching thanks to Lexum’s publishing technology."

Cannabis Laws Across Canada

Now that recreational cannabis use is legal in Canada as of this morning, what do the laws actually look like?

Well, this being Canada, everything depends on the province or territory in which you live.

A number of sources have tried to describe the situation:

• Cannabis is legal in Canada — here's what you need to know (CBC News)
• A coast-to-coast guide to Canada’s cannabis laws (Toronto Star)
• Cannabis across Canada - Legislation and regulations by province (Canadian Lawyer)
• The Cannabis Channel (Thomson Reuters) 

And here is the Library of Parliament's legislative summary of Bill C-45: An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts which got the whole ball rolling.

Supreme Court of Canada: New Library Titles

The list of new library titles added to the Supreme Court of Canada collection from October 1 to 15, 2018 is now available on the Court website.

It is possible to subscribe via e-mail to receive the list.

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Webinar on Legal Project Management

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) is hosting a webinar on October 24, 2018 on Legal Project Management:

"A seasoned professional in the area of legal project management, Steven B. Levy will be discussing various aspects of how to successfully manage projects as a legal information professional. He has experience on a broad range of projects that vary in scope, timelines, team size, geographic reach, etc. and will discuss how to manage tasks, costs, deliverables, deadlines, and more. Whether you have recently started your career, a new project, or are looking to gain some fresh insight into various approaches to project management, this webinar will have something for you."

The webinar takes place from 1 to 2:30PM Eastern.

Cost is $45.20 for CALL members ($28.25 for CALL student members), $67.80 for non-members.

Canadian Association of Research Libraries Statement on Copyright Impact of New Free Trade Agreement

The Canadian Association of Research Libraries has released a statement on the on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that was announced on September 30, 2018:

"The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) recognizes the importance of securing a modernized continental trade agreement for the contemporary digital economy. However, we are concerned that the new agreement extends the term of copyright from 50 years to 70 years after the artist or creator’s death. Because of this provision, no works will enter the public domain for 20 years after USMCA is ratified (...)"

"We believe that a term of copyright of life plus 50 years is adequate to reward rights holders and beneficiaries, while balancing the benefits that a robust public domain has for Canada’s knowledge-based economy. Unfortunately, although the USMCA exports more restrictive elements of U.S. Copyright Laws to Canada, it does not balance this by importing more permissive elements of U.S. law that protect the public interest, such as the more open-ended concept of fair use, or the exemption of government works from copyright."

American Library Association Government Documents Roundtable Launches New Website

The Government Documents Roundtable or GODORT is part of the American Library Association. It recently launched a redesigned website.

GODORT describes itself as "a dynamic forum where information professionals learn, discuss, advocate, and create scholarship on and about government information at all levels of government (local, state, national, international)."

One of its most interesting activities is the annual contest asking people to nominate notable government documents for consideration for a review article in Library Journal. Government documents can be American or international (so this includes Canadian material).

One Canadian government document recognized by GODORT was Learning from SARS: Renewal of Public Health in Canada; A Report of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health (Health Canada, 2003).

Launch of Foundations of the Common Law 1215-1914

The free online collection known as Foundations of the Common Law 1215-1914 was launched klast week on CommonLII.org, the Commonwealth Legal Information Institute.

It describes itself as "the most comprehensive historical legal resource for the first 800 years of the whole common law world"and is a joint undertaking of 10 free access international Legal Information Institutes such as CanLII (Canadian Legal Information institute), AustLII (Australasia) and BaiLII (Britain and Ireland).

Right now, it includes mostly reported cases and legislation and it will be adding secondary materials.

Crown Copyright "Outdated"?

Amanda Wakaruk, Copyright Librarian at the University of Alberta, recently published an article entitled Canada’s Crown Copyright: Outdated and unnecessary.

It appeared in Open Shelf, the journal of the Ontario Library Association.

Under s. 12 of the Copyright Act,  works “prepared or published by or under the direction or control of Her Majesty or any government department” belong to the Crown.

Like many other members of the library community, Wakaruk challenges the rationale for the continued existence of Crown copyright in Canada:

"Very few modern democracies restrict the reuse of government publications as tightly as Canada’s current regime. In fact, Canada might be the only country whose Crown copyright provision predates the First World War and allows for copyright to exist in perpetuity for unpublished government works. Section 12 of Canada’s Copyright Act was first written as a piece of UK legislation passed in 1911. And it’s long overdue for a re-write."

"The advent of digital publishing and the increased expectations related to the use and reuse of publicly available works has forced government information librarians into an awkward position. On one hand, from a technological perspective, they are now able to collect, collate, preserve, and share government publications directly from government websites. On the other hand, and from a legal perspective, they are only able to accomplish their traditional stewardship role by relying on exceptions to copyright infringement (without any supporting case law). That’s a legal risk few institutions are willing to take. And it comes with a deep social cost."

Earlier Library Boy posts on the issue include:

• Canadian Association of Law Libraries Wants to Intervene in Supreme Court of Canada Copyright Case (August 28, 2018)
• Canadian Federation of Library Associations Brief to Parliament on Copyright Review (October 1, 2018)

Full Data from Everyday Legal Problems and the Cost of Justice Survey

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice has published the report with all the data from their Everyday Legal Problems and Cost of Justice of Justice in Canada survey.

As part of a national 7-year study on the Cost of Justice, the Forum surveyed over 3,000 adults in Canada to learn about their experiences with civil and family justice problems, the costs (monetary and non-monetary) of experiencing one or more civil or family justice problems and their views on the justice system.

Earlier Library Boy posts on the topic include:

• Everyday Legal Problems and the Cost of Justice (September 7, 2017)
• Report on Mental and Physical Health Costs of Everyday Legal Problems (January 15, 2018)

The Forum is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to access to justice research and advocacy. It was established by the Canadian Bar Association and is affiliated with Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. 

October 2018 Issue of In Session - E-Newsletter of Canadian Association of Law Libraries

The October 2018 issue of In Session is available online.

It is the monthly e-newsletter of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) and contains news from CALL committees and special interest groups, member updates and events.

Audio Recordings of Supreme Court of Canada Hearings

The Supreme Court of Canada is making audio recordings of hearings held since October 2017 available on its website. These recordings are in addition to the Court’s webcasts, which had been available since 2009.

Audio files can be accessed by opening a hearing webcast page and selecting “Audio only” under “Select Format and Language.”

Audio recordings of future hearings will be published within a day of the hearing, unless publication restrictions apply.

The files, available in .mp3 format, can be played on the website or downloaded to a computer or mobile device and listened to using any standard audio program or app.

Strategic Planning Survey for Canadian Federation of Library Associations

The Canadian Federation of Library Association’s (CFLA) is inviting member associations as well as individuals and organizations in the larger library stakeholder community to respond to its strategic planning survey.

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries is a member of the CFLA.

From an explanation on the website Librarianship.ca:

"September 2018 marks the beginning of the 3rd year of operations for CFLA-FCAB. As a result, we are embarking on our first Strategic Planning process. CFLA-FCAB was formed to provide a collective national voice for the Canadian library community both nationally and internationally and we want to make sure that voice is heard in the right arenas."

"As this is our first Strategic Planning process, we are seeking feedback from as wide of an audience as possible. It is critical that we hear from our member associations and so we are asking that each Board of our member associations provide us with a collective response on behalf of your association and the role of CFLA-FCAB in that relationship."

"In addition, we are also seeking input from individuals, organizations, and the larger library stakeholder community. We are asking that you please share this invitation to participate with your members and other stakeholders in your community that could help to inform the Federation’s Board of Directors and the work that we do."

Recent Library of Parliament HillNotes Blog Posts

HillNotes, the blog of the Library of Parliament in Ottawa, recently posted two new articles:

• Issues and Concerns Related to Digital Currencies: "The International Monetary Fund compared the excitement and unprecedented price increases of some digital currencies to historical speculative bubbles such as the tulip mania of the 1600s and the more recent dot-com bubble. In March 2018, the Group of Twenty Communique stated that digital currencies 'raise issues with respect to consumer and investor protection, market integrity, tax evasion, money laundering and terrorist financing,' and 'they could have financial stability implications.' Concerns related to digital currencies centre around their price volatility, links to criminal behaviour, and environmental impacts. However, many argue that digital currencies and their supporting technologies might also be used to reduce poverty."
• Net Neutrality in Canada: "The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC or the Commission) defines net neutrality as the general principle that 'all traffic on the Internet should be given equal treatment by' Internet service providers (ISPs) (...) On 23 May 2018, Parliament unanimously called on the Government of Canada, in its upcoming review of the [Telecommunications] Act, 'to explore opportunities to further enshrine in legislation the principles of neutrality in the provision and carriage of all telecommunications services.' On 28 June 2018, the Government requested the expert panel conducting the review to examine whether current legislation is well-positioned to protect net neutrality in the future. The panel is expected to table its final report in January 2020."

Canadian Federation of Library Associations Brief to Parliament on Copyright Review

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) recently submitted a brief to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Trade of the Canadian Parliament, a committee that is reviewing the Copyright Act.

The document outlines the CFLA's positions on issues such as fair dealing, contract override, technological protection measures (TPMs), Crown copyright and indigenous knowledge.

Among the recommendations made by the CFLA are:

"That Parliament amend the Copyright Act to make it clear where the Act provides that an activity is not an infringement of copyright no contract can override the Act, using the Irish legislation as a model."

"That Parliament amend the Copyright Act to make it clear that the Act is technologically neutral and that circumvention of TPMs is permitted for non-infringing, digital and analog uses (...)"  

"That Parliament eliminate Crown copyright on all publicly accessible government works or make those works openly licensed by default and examine section 12 to clarify the need for Crown copyright in other government works."

"That the Copyright Act respect, affirm and recognize Indigenous peoples’ ownership of their traditional and living respective Indigenous knowledge."

Supreme Court of Canada: New Library Titles

The list of new library titles added to the Supreme Court of Canada collection from September 16th to 31st, 2018 is now available on the Court website.

It is possible to subscribe via e-mail to receive the list.

Supreme Court of Canada Calendar of October 2018 Hearings

The Supreme Court of Canada has published its calendar of appeals that will be heard from October 8 to October 19, 2018.

To find out more about any particular case, click on the docket number in parentheses next to each case name to find docket information, case summaries as well as facta from the parties.