We urge therefore that particular attention is given to our views regarding the importance of the need for adequate exceptions and limitations to keep the balance in copyright. In the information society, libraries will have a crucial role as gateways to the information resources on the global superhighways.
Society is dependent on democratic access to information.
Copyright protects not only the rights owners of a work, but also public access to that work once it is published. There is a societal need to maintain a balance between the rights of authors and the public interests in particular for education, research and access to information. This was reflected in the Berne Convention of 1886 and the recognition of this need was confirmed by 157 nations in the Preamble of the recently adopted WIPO Copyright Treaty.