Copyright Action Alliance for Education and Science

The Copyright Action Alliance for Education and Science (German: Aktionsbündnis Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaft, often shortened to Urheberrechtsbündnis) is a German civil-society initiative rooted in the university and research community. It campaigns for free access to worldwide information for the purposes of education and science through digital media, and for a copyright framework that balances the interests of authors, the public and science rather than one-sidedly strengthening the rights of commercial exploiters. The alliance was formed in 2004, in the final phase of the so-called "First Basket" of the adaptation of German copyright law to the EU Directive 2001/29/EC, which was seen as introducing tightening measures that would unilaterally strengthen the rights of rights-holders in the digital context. It was supported in its formation by the Deutsche Initiative für Netzwerkinformation (DINI). Within six months of its founding, 190 professional societies and more than 2,800 individuals had joined. More than 30 different organizations and institutions are counted among its founders, including the German Rectors' Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz), the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), the Max Planck Society and the Fraunhofer Society. Its demands were formulated in the Göttingen Declaration on Copyright for Education and Science of 5 July 2004, whose signatures are administered by DINI. Together with the Budapest, Bethesda and Berlin open-access declarations, the Göttingen Declaration is regarded as an early manifesto for the conception of open access and open science. The alliance's spokespersons have included Rainer Kuhlen, Harald Müller and Oliver Hinte (USB Köln) as of November 2016. In the debate over copyright reform, the Urheberrechtsbündnis has developed into the most determined representative of the interests of science. Its website publishes the Göttingen Declaration, a list of signatories, updated demands, dates and publications, and invites supporters to sign up.

The Copyright Action Alliance for Education and Science (Aktionsbündnis Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaft) is an initiative from the university environment that demands free access to worldwide information for the purposes of education and science with the help of digital media. It is often referred to simply as the Urheberrechtsbündnis. The alliance formed in 2004 with the support of the Deutsche Initiative für Netzwerkinformation (DINI), during the final phase of the "First Basket" of the adaptation of German copyright law to the requirements of EU Directive 2001/29/EC. That adaptation was seen as introducing tightening measures: the rights of exploiters in the digital context were to be unilaterally strengthened. Within six months of its founding, 190 professional societies and more than 2,800 individuals had joined the alliance. More than 30 different organizations and institutions are among its founders, including the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (German Rectors' Conference), the Wissenschaftsrat (German Council of Science and Humanities), the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max Planck Society), the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and numerous others. Its demands were formulated in the Göttingen Declaration on Copyright for Education and Science of 5 July 2004, whose signatures are administered by DINI. Together with the Budapest, Bethesda and Berlin open-access declarations, the Göttingen Declaration is regarded as an early manifesto for the conception of open access and open science. As of November 2016, the spokespersons of the alliance were Rainer Kuhlen, Harald Müller and Oliver Hinte (USB Köln). In the debate over copyright reforms, the Urheberrechtsbündnis has developed into the most determined representative of the interests of science. The alliance's website presents its About Us section, the Göttingen Declaration of 2004, a list of signatories, dates and publications, links, updated demands, and an invitation to support the coalition by signing.

• 2016

  As of November 2016, the spokespersons are Rainer Kuhlen, Harald Müller and Oliver Hinte (USB Köln).

• 2004

  The alliance forms with the support of DINI during the final phase of the "First Basket" of German copyright law adaptation to EU Directive 2001/29/EC.

• 2004

  The Göttingen Declaration on Copyright for Education and Science is issued on 5 July 2004; its signatures are administered by DINI.

• 2004

  Within six months of founding, 190 professional societies and more than 2,800 individuals join the alliance.

A civil-society coalition representing the interests of education and science in copyright debates, advocating a balanced copyright law and open access to knowledge.

• Göttingen Declaration on Copyright for Education and Science (2004)

  The founding manifesto formulating the alliance's demands; regarded, alongside the Budapest, Bethesda and Berlin declarations, as an early manifesto for open access and open science.

• Updated Demands

  A section of the alliance's website presenting updated policy demands.

• List of Signatories

  A list of organizations and individuals supporting the Göttingen Declaration, administered by DINI.

1. 1Coalition for Action 'Copyright for Education and Research'urheberrechtsbuendnis.de
2. 2Coalition for Action 'Copyright for Education and Research'urheberrechtsbuendnis.de
3. 3Copyright Action Alliance for Education and Sciencewikidata.org
4. 4Aktionsbündnis Urheberrecht für Bildung und Wissenschaftde.wikipedia.org