European green paper

The European Commission's green paper on copyright in the knowledge economy was intended to promote debate about the dissemination of knowledge in the digital age, with particular reference to the use of such knowledge for research, science and education.

It covered general issues dealing with the harmonisation of copyright, as well as more specific issues concerning specific exceptions which promote access to information, including the libraries and archives exception, and the exception for the benefit of people with a disability. It also considered the possible introduction of an exception for user-created content.

The closing date for comments on the paper was 30 November 2008.

The UK Government’s response (36Kb) to the EU's green paper is available.