STM position on International Document Supply

Citation

(2002), "STM position on International Document Supply", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2002.12230aab.012

STM position on International Document Supply

STM position on International Document SupplyKeywords: Document supply

The International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM) have issued a Position Paper on International Document Supply, which was approved at the STM General Assembly in October 2001. The document states:

STM fully supports national libraries in their [important] work of deposit, archiving and preservation of works as part of the national heritage. STM acknowledges the role of national libraries in supplying single copies of documents to readers or other libraries where these are not otherwise available commercially and within the constraints of national law. STM believes that all permitted library copying, access and supply, particularly internationally, must comply with the Berne Convention "3-step test" and apply only in special cases, not conflict with normal exploitation of the work and not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate rights of the rights-holder. STM considers that statutory copyright exceptions in national copyright laws, permitting copying without remuneration, should not extend to digital copying, access or transmission, or to international supply of digital material. [In each case they should not apply where licensing alternatives exist.] STM reaffirms its view that copying or supply to commercial entities or intermediaries should only be permitted if consent is obtained with fair remuneration to the rights-holder. STM welcomes co-operation on the development of individual and (where appropriate) voluntary collective licences for all the above activities [within the constraints of applicable competition laws].

Source: Lex Lefebvre, Secretary-General, STM