CALL FOR PAPERS: Symposium on the Right to Research in International Copyright Law

EXTENDED DEADLINE for submissions: January 31, 2022
Symposium: April 21-22, 2022

American University Washington College of Law
 

The American University Washington College of Law Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP), American University International Law Review (AUILR), and the University of Amsterdam Institute for Information Law (IViR) are inviting papers for a Symposium on the Right to Research in International Copyright Law on April 21-22, 2022. 

We are tentatively planning to have this meeting in-person at American University Washington College of Law, in Washington D.C., depending on health advisories, and will also have remote participation options. 

Publication opportunity. Completed papers on international law topics (i.e. including evaluation of international treaty or customary law) which meet the AUILR guidelines (see appendix below) will be considered for publication in a Fall 2022 symposium issue of the AUILR. Papers to be published will be required to be completed and ready to edit by June 1, 2022, and will be considered for publication based on a draft submitted by April 14, 2022.

Works-in-progress. We will host a limited number of works-in-progress workshops to give feedback on projects related to the right to research in copyright theme that may not be ready to publish or that venture beyond the international law focus of AUILR (e.g works that investigate comparative, empirical, historical and other dimensions of the issue).    

Statement on Protecting the Right to Research in International Copyright. We invite presentations to propose language for a statement on protecting the right to research in international copyright that we will draft at the meeting. We will conclude with a Chatham House Rule discussion of a draft statement to be finalized after the meeting and delivered to the 42nd Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (May 9-13, 2022). Proposals may begin with “WIPO should” and address topics currently being considered by the SCCR, including:

  • Exceptions and limitations for research, including for text and data mining
  • Online and digital uses
  • Cross border uses
  • Overridability of limitations and exceptions by terms in contracts
  • Safe harbor protections for researchers and research institutions
  • Technical protection measures and rights management information
  • Protection of research rights in any broadcast treaty

Application. To apply to attend the Symposium and present your work, attend as a commenter, or participate in a works-in-progress workshop, please complete the AUILR 2022 Symposium Submission Form by January 31, 2022. The form asks for an early copy of the draft you seek to present. The initial draft should include a literature review, explanation of methodology and your claim or hypothesis. An expanded pre-conference draft for distribution to attendees and consideration for a publication offer will be due April 14, 2022.

Travel costs. Assuming we are able to host the conference in person, participants who are accepted to present papers for publication in the symposium issue will be entitled to travel costs (flight + hotel) to attend the meeting. Other participants will be expected to fund their own travel. 

We will confirm whether we can host the in-person event by February 25. 

Appendix: Guidelines for Submissions to the American University International Law Review

AUILR considers contributions of varying lengths and styles, ranging from extensive treatment of specific international legal topics to broader discussions of international legal issues. Authors must provide timely and original legal analysis and avoid summarizing previous research efforts. For full length Articles, ILR prefers manuscripts between 10,000 and 25,000 words in length, including footnotes. This Symposium issue will also consider the publication of shorter works relevant to the core theme of the Symposium.

AUILR encourages scholarship that is understandable to those unfamiliar with the topic and is supported by responsive and authoritative footnotes. Assertions should be backed by citations. Text and citations should conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (21st ed.). Manuscripts should use footnotes, as opposed to endnotes. The text of submissions should contain appropriate headings and subheadings.

AUILR is one of the ten most frequently cited international and comparative student law reviews in the United States. It is a member of the National Conference of International Law Journals and is indexed in: LEXIS, Westlaw, the Index to Legal Periodicals, the Resource Index/Current Law Index and HeinOnline.