Copyright in publishing will be a key theme at the International Publishers Congress

Francis Gurry, director general of Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organisation, is confirmed to speak at the 31st International Publishers Congress in London in April 2016. He will speak on a panel chaired by Paul Doda, chair of the IPA Copyright Committee. The panel entitled ‘Global Trends in Copyright: Fair Use and Beyond’ will also include renowned copyright lawyer Jon Baumgarten, retired partner of the Proskauer law firm and former general counsel of the US Copyright Office.

Francis Gurry is an Australian lawyer who has served as director general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) since October 1, 2008. While, Jon Baumgarten is a renowned copyright law, litigation and policy lawyer. In addition to this panel, Richard Malka, a French lawyer specialising in media law who has been the lawyer for newspaper Charlie Hebdo since 1992, will give a presentation on “2015, the end of copyright – Taking for free is stealing”.

The Congress runs from April 9-12, 2016 and will take place at The London Book Fair for the first time. Delegates will hear from international figures from the worlds of publishing, copyright and business from over 17 countries, alongside keynotes from influential authors Philip Pullman and Alaa Al-Aswany.

The Congress is organised by the International Publishers Association in partnership with the UK Publishers Association and The London Book Fair. The comprehensive programme will address the key policy and practical issues of the day for publishers.