National Library does not receive a more modern legal basis for the time being
Published: Monday, Dec 9th 2024, 21:00
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An alliance of the SVP and SP rejected a modernization of the Federal Act on the Swiss National Library on Monday. The Federal Council's draft bill will now go back to the Council of States. Concerns about additional costs and the rights of authors tipped the scales.
In the overall vote, 99 members of the National Council said no to the revision of the law, 86 said yes. This was with one abstention. The Council of States had approved the draft quite clearly in June.
The current NBibG, as the law is abbreviated, dates back to 1992. The law does not yet mention digital information. The Federal Council wants to change this. The National Library is now to collect freely accessible, electronically available information relating to Switzerland itself.
According to the Federal Council and the Council of States, the National Library should be able to claim information relating to Switzerland that is not freely accessible electronically. Rights holders should not be able to assert any claims for remuneration. As the Federal Council wrote in its dispatch, this concerns content behind a paywall, for example.
This passage went too far for the SVP and also the SP in the National Council. According to its parliamentary group spokesperson, the SVP also fears additional costs. Following investigations, the National Council's preliminary committee came to the conclusion that the draft complies with the exceptions laid down in the Copyright Act. This was because the works would not be used commercially by the National Library and access restrictions were envisaged.
However, according to statements made in the National Council on Monday, the copyright collecting societies unanimously reject this regulation. The NBibG revision is part of the federal government's 2025-2028 cultural message.
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