Blog post by Stephen Wyber
Advocating for Inclusive Policymaking in Copyright and Digital Policies
As Copyright Week 2025 begins, the first-day theme is that “copyright policy should be made in the open with input from everyone.” This principle resonates strongly with Knowledge Rights 21 as we continue to advocate for inclusive and transparent policymaking.
Neglecting research and education in impact assessments
Unfortunately, the needs and interests of the research and education sectors – and the libraries that support them – are often neglected or merely an afterthought in decision-making processes. A 2024 report from Knowledge Rights 21 confirmed this troubling trend, revealing how impact assessment reports for key legislative proposals frequently neglect these sectors.
A positive step forward: Poland’s Council Presidency
The Polish Council Presidency’s focus on ensuring researchers are “seen and heard” is a promising development. At Knowledge Rights 21, we hope that the messages from our recent open letter to the Presidency have been heard loud and clearly.
Systemic exclusion across the EU
Upcoming analysis by Knowledge Rights 21 reveals a troubling pattern: the systemic exclusion of research and education extends from the EU level to Member States. For example:
- Of the 9 European countries with permanent copyright councils, only Finland explicitly includes research representation.
- Only 6 of the 27 Member States actively consulted library stakeholders during the implementation of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, while only 3 deliberately included research voices.
Why inclusive policymaking matters
Meaningful reforms require taking into account all affected voices, including those of research, education, and libraries. Inclusive policymaking is essential to create legislation that fosters access to culture and knowledge and unlocks Europe’s innovation potential.
27 January 2025
