Artists Unite Against Proposed Extension To Swiss Copyright Law

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

13 October 2006

It has emerged that a group of Swiss artists, art professionals and academics have launched an initiative protesting plans to extend the reach of Swiss copyright laws that are currently in the pipeline.

Late last month, the group launched the website kunstfreiheit.ch, which translates as 'freedom of art'.

The website contains an open letter to the Swiss authorities protesting the proposed legislative changes, and draws attention to the differences between the viewpoints of artists and related industries, dismissing the suggestion that the latter always seeks to advance the best interests of the former.

The letter underlines three key principles considered essential in any new copyright legislstion by the signatories, namely that:

• Protection rather than control of artistic works should be the priority;
• The legally permitted terms of usage for copyrighted works should be clarified; and
• Digital Rights Management (DRM) provisions should not be permitted to interfere with artistic creativity.

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