To all catalogers,

We have found ourselves in an unenviable position of opposing the work that supposedly has been authorized by agencies representing our interests. I might compare it to a military coup d’état. I mean here the RDA “test” and its implications on the cataloging world at large. After extensive discussions on the PCC, OCLC cataloging e-mail lists with opinions from the British Library, Australia and North America, we can safely conclude thatt there is a broad consensus against principles of RDA and the way RDA “test” has been imposed on the cataloging world. Therefore, I suggest the following memorandum to be implemented by catalogers throughout the world in response to the “RDA coup d’état”:

MEPs Róża Maria Grafin von Thun und Hohenstein, and Tadeusz Zwiefka, in collaboration with the law firm Wardynski & Partners, will be hosting a public event: "Orphan works; an example of the unsolvable conflict between the author and society", under the patronage of Doris Pack, MEP, Chairman of the CULT Committee, and Klaus-Heiner Lehne, MEP, Chairman of the JURI Committee.

Orphan works are works the copyright ownership of which cannot be established. Estimates show that they constitute a significant part of the cultural heritage. Due to lack of the possibility of obtaining consent for their use, as the absence of another solution exists, they lie idle and wait to be used. The subject of the discussion shall be legally available methods of restitution to the society of orphan works, while preserving the interests of persons who are entitled to remuneration as a result of such restitution.

Tuesday, 16th November 2010, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
European Parliament
60 rue Wiertz/Wiertzstraat, Brussels, Belgium
ROOM JAN 6Q2 - entrance through Spinelli building from the Luxembourg Square side.

Free participation but limited seating. RSVP by 3rd November 2010 to: Aleksandra Oleśniak: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.communia-project.eu/content/conference-orphan-works-ep