The Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) is grateful for the opportunity to comment on this draft outline and commends the decision to supplement the OECD’s substantial work on the knowledge economy with special attention to the public benefits of Internet Intermediaries for the Information Society embodied in this project. We offer these comments on proposed areas of specific focus in this research program and make suggestions for further relevant resources with the aim of supporting the public interest emphasis of the report. We welcome further exchanges on the ICCP’s work as outlined in the Principles for the Participation of Non-governmental Stakeholders in the Work of the ICCP Committee and its Working Parties.
The future growth of the Internet and its ability to reach its full potential in the economic, cultural and social spheres depends on OECD countries adopting legal regimes and regulatory frameworks that provide appropriate incentives for investment in the development of Internet technologies and widespread broadband infrastructure deployment, while safeguarding the rights of citizens. We believe that appropriately tailored frameworks for limitations on liability of Internet intermediaries are the key driver of Internet innovation and the freedom and autonomy of individuals in the Information Society.
As CSISAC stated in the Seoul Declaration, OECD Member countries should “maintain a balanced framework for intellectual property protection that is least intrusive to personal privacy, least restrictive for the development of new technologies, and that promotes creativity, innovation, and learning.”
