ESCIA Pilot Study: The Use of Copyrighted Material for the Purposes of Non-commercial Scientific Research

The ESCIA Pilot Study was conducted in 2014-2016 in cooperation between Cupore and the Finnish Copyright Society. The topic of the pilot study was the use of copyrighted material for the purpose of non-commercial scientific research. The main goal was to study the impacts of different policy options, and thereby to test in Finland the application of the WIPO Draft Guidelines on Assessing the Economic, Social and Cultural impact of Copyright on the Creative Economy (or ESCIA Guidelines). The guidelines were published in 2013 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The present publication presents the outcomes of the pilot study. It summarizes the key findings as well as observations and recommendations concerning the ESCIA methodology.

The use of copyright-protected material for the purposes of scientific research was studied from the perspectives of right holders as well as researchers and research institutions. The study was based on a set of alternative policy options that were discussed by two focus groups. From the researchers’ point of view, a new limitation to copyright that allows the use of copyright-protected material for the purposes of non-commercial scientific research was considered as the best option for solving current problems. On the other hand, representatives of right holders emphasized that developing the current systems and licenses as well as increasing dialogue between different parties would be the best solution.

In 2017 the Finnish Copyright Society conducted, on the basis of a suggestion by WIPO, an additional step in the project, whose outcomes are included in the present publication.