Strong Copyright vs Open Source, Open Access, Open Data: the Role of Free Trade Agreements

This presentation aims to map the impact of copyrigt law on the circulation of information and technological development within some selected examples of free trade agreements in force or under negotiation.

Excessively restrictive rules – the Western “high livel of protection” approach”-  in this context may threaten policies to foster innovation and technological development.

Open models (as Open Source software, Open Access to scientific publications, Open Research Data etc.), indeed, foster trade in high tech products and services, by stimualting free flow of ideas and knowledge across borders, progress of knowledge, innovation and business development around the several countries involved. The open logic promote virtuous circles of production of new knowledge and business models more profiled on new technological scenarios.

Assuming that intellectual property policy should play a pivotal role in trade agreements, then the open logic rules should be a natural fit for inclusion amongst this kind of international regulation.

So we argue in favour of a more balanced approach to copyright law in FTAs context.