Open Science & AI: A UK Policy Discussion
A Knowledge Rights 21 Event
Tuesday 25th April 2023
Friends House 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

In association with CILIP, the library and information association and RLUK, Research Libraries UK, Knowledge Rights 21 invites you to attend a one day conference in London to discuss the latest policy developments around Open Science, AI, as well as broader issues of long term sustainable access to digital knowledge, and what is needed to take things further.
Knowledge Rights 21 (KR21) is an Arcadia funded project working to promote a research friendly regulatory environment across Europe, focussing on the legislative and licensing solutions needed to make this a reality. The day will comprise of three separate sessions, in which five studies commissioned by KR21 are presented, followed by a panel discussion by leading experts in the area.
Arrivals: 9:30 – 10:00
Panel 1: Start 10:00
Open Science: Author Rights Retention and Secondary Publishing Rights
Rights retention by UK authors is already supported by UKRI and Coalition S, with the N8 Research Partnership’s support for authors retaining their rights representing another significant development, following a bottom-up approach.
In parallel, the Biden Administration has championed a more systematic, top-down approach, announcing immediate publication of government funded research, and a number of European countries have implemented laws for secondary publishing rights – something which the European Union is currently also considering. These approaches create rights for authors based in the law which cannot be removed and do not require negotiation by authors.
After presentations of findings from two KR21 commissioned studies on the themes of author rights retention and secondary publishing rights, the panel will discuss and explore both approaches in a UK policy context.
Presentations of interim findings of KR21 Studies:
- Author Rights Retention (SPARC Europe)
- Secondary Publishing Right (LIBER)
Panelists:
Dr David Prosser – Executive Director Research Libraries UK (RLUK)
Sally Rumsey – Coalition S
Jon Treadway – SPARC Europe / Great North Wood Consulting
Dr Giannis Tsakonas – Library Director of Patras University / LIBER Vice President
Stephen Wyber – Director of Policy and Advocacy, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
Session Chair: Ross Mounce – Director of Open Access Programmes, Arcadia Fund
Panel 2: Start 13:00
Towards A New Right to Access Digital Content for Education and Research: eBooks as a case study
The move to licensed digital content in the education and research sectors creates both opportunities and challenges. Whilst open access has sought to successfully deal with a number of issues primarily in the field of journal publishing, solutions for other types of educational and cultural material remain less evident.
When prices are too high, supply is unstable or intermediaries refuse to license public bodies digital content, education and the public interest suffers.
After presentations of findings from KR21 commissioned studies on eBooks focussed on copyright and competition law, the panel will evaluate the complex issues currently being faced by our public institutions when licensing eBooks, and what solutions may be found.
Presentations of interim and final findings of KR21 Studies:
- eBooks and Copyright Law (Dr Konrad Gliściński, Centrum Cyfrowe)
- eBooks and Competition Law Issues (Dr Kenny Barr, CREATE Centre, Glasgow University)
Panelists:
Caroline Ball – University of Derby / eBookSOS
Dr Kenny Barr – Create Centre, Glasgow University
Dr Konrad Gliściński – Centrum Cyfrowe / Dept of Law, Jagiellonian University
Cathal McCauley – University Librarian Maynooth University / President of the Library Association of Ireland
Nick Poole – CEO CILIP Library and Information Association (UK)
Session Chair: Stephen Wyber – IFLA
Panel 3: Start 15:00
AI and Open Norms: Where we are in the UK and where are we going?
One reason given for the success of the American scientific and technology sector, has been its ability to rely on flexibilities in US copyright law. As a result, AI in the United States has required little legislative change to support home-grown data-driven innovation and research.
In contrast, the UK currently only allows AI trained on third party data to be undertaken for non-commercial purposes. Despite plans to change this announced by the government last year, this appears to now be in retreat, leaving the UK uncompetitive as ever in global AI markets.
After a presentation of findings from a KR21 commissioned study on open norms in copyright law in seven different countries, and an analysis of the latest state of play regarding the UK government’s AI IP policy, the panel will discuss how we can best establish a regulatory framework in the UK to support scientific research, R&D and technology.
Presentations:
- KR21 Study interim findings on Open Norms (Professor Dinusha Mendis & Dr Dok Ki Hong, Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management, Bournemouth University)
- Presentation on the latest state of play in the UK on TDM / AI exceptions (Benjamin White, Knowledge Rights 21)
Panelists:
Sonia Cooper – Microsoft
Camilla de Coverly Veale – The Coalition for a Digital Economy (COADEC)
Lucy Crompton-Reid – CEO Wikimedia UK
Dr Dukki Hong – Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management, Bournemouth University
Prof Dinusha Mendis – Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management, Bournemouth University
Benjamin White – Knowledge Rights 21
Session Chair: Javier Ruiz – Independent policy advisor on Tech, Digital and Consumer Rights / KR21
END
TIME: Tuesday 25th April 2023.
9:30 – 10:00 START to 17:00 FINISH
VENUE: Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
REGISTRATION:
Registration is free; you can sign up HERE.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided free of charge.
For further information about the event please contact: info@knowledgerights21.org

EVENT HELD IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

