Last weekend (yes, I know, it's been a while), librarian organisation eIFL-IP (Electronic Information for Libraries) held a workshop in Kiev, Ukraine. Participants came from countries of the former Soviet Union, from Mongolia, Arabia, Ghana and Cambodia. Quite an international environment, and very interesting people.
Libraries for me have always been a wellspring of knowledge, so it was a pleasure to spend time with librarians. They are, like Free Software, a community that is increasingly affected by ill-designed and overly restrictive copyright laws. Here, they were taught about how to advocate their interests in their home countries.
There were a number of very interesting presentations, among them one on the link between trade and intellectual monopoly powers. I gave two talks: one on Free Software and sharing knowledge, and one on the WIPO Development Agenda.
A press release from the workshop is here.
