IFLA Statement on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

Libraries play an essential role in fostering equitable access to information and cultural expression while ensuring compliance with copyright principles and regulations. IFLA is committed to the belief that universal and equitable access to information is vital for the social, educational, cultural, democratic, and economic well-being of people and communities. In this context, IFLA expresses concern over the non-transparent negotiations surrounding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which pose a threat to the balance of copyright. While supporting efforts to combat commercial counterfeiting, especially where public health and safety are at risk, IFLA warns that ACTA’s objectives and methods conflict with the library community’s commitment to equitable access to information.