The Bellagio Declaration

The Society for Critical Exchange. The Bellagio Declaration, Statement of the Bellagio Conference, 1993 Rockefeller Conference "Cultural Agency/Cultural Authority:Politics and Poetics of Intellectual Property in the Post-Colonial Era. March 11,1993.
http://www.case.edu/affil/sce/BellagioDec.html


The Bellagio Document is a declaration that received unified support from a broad range of professionals who gathered from all over the globe. While they applauded the 'increasing attention by the world community to such previously ignored issues as preservation of the enviornment, cultural heritage and biodiversity" they voiced genuine concern and alarm over the increased control a few individuals had managed to acquire over intellectual property. These "few " had designed laws that would benefit them at the expense of many. The concept of "fair use" and "public domain" were being limited to protect these few but the harmful effects in areas such as culture, public access, international development and technological innovation were being ignored.
They took issue with the following points in particular. The need to protect folkliric works, works of cultural heritage and the biological and technological knowledge of traditional peoples. The broad range of negative effects these laws had on scientific and artistic progress, the traditional cultures of indigenous and tribal people and access to information by all. The aggressive expansion of intellectual property rights that benifit only a few. They were especially concerned with the negative effects suffered by indigenous groups because their folklore and culture were basically excluded from any protection by the singular author design that was implemented.
The Document directly attacked the "systems built around the author paradigm (which) tend to obscure or undervalue the importance of 'public domain', the intellectual and cultural commons from which the future will be constructed." They, in fact, recognized "information as among the most precious of all resources...(and)...systems built around the author paradigm tend to obscure the importance of the public domain."
The Bellagio Declaration is a united statement issued by professionals from many diciplines and from around the world in support of the "public domain". They addressed the issue of creative property rights and the laws that have effectively limited access to creative property and often stifle new intellectual and creative ideas. It was drawn up and signed fourteen years ago but the conflicts it describes are very much with us today. A special concern was voiced regarding digital technology and it is in this arena today that the copyright wars are being waged. As we were reminded in this Declaration this has all taken place in the absence of public outcry, outrage ao even recognition. Our freedom to acquire knowledge, create independently and secure the past is at stake.