The 11th annual Kraemer Copyright Conference (KCC) was held on June 11 – June 13, 2024, with over 130 attendees. The theme this year was “The Future is Now: Navigating the Intersection of Copyright, AI, and Libraries.” KCC is a dynamic and enriching free conference that offers academic, public, special, and school librarians, as well as attorneys and other subject matter experts, an opportunity to learn about U.S. Copyright Law.
Conference Coordinator Tucker Taylor stated, “The Kraemer Copyright Conference stands out as the leading conference for library copyright professionals. The networking, learning, and overall experience are unparalleled. It is an essential event for anyone in our field.”
This year, for the first time, the intersection of AI and copyright was explored. Dave Hansen, Executive Director of Authors Alliance gave a keynote on how libraries are poised to play a key public-interest role in the AI ecosystem; addressing the major open copyright questions by AI for libraries, such as fair use of library collections as training data. And the challenges libraries face in supporting AI research stemming from licensing and contractual override of fair use. Keynote speakers and presenters gave talks on a variety of topics for all levels of skill or knowledge of copyright.
Virginia Cononie, Coordinator of Reference, and Research at the University of South Carolina – Upstate stated, “I attended the Kraemer conference for the first time this year, and I am so glad I did. I got a refresher on the basics of the law while also hearing from copyright professionals about how AI is impacting our culture, our retention practices, intellectual property rights, and the way libraries work and grow in this digital age.”
This sentiment was also reflected in longtime KCC speaker Kyle K. Courtney, Director of Copyright and Information Policy at Harvard Library, who indicated, “The Kraemer Copyright Conference was exceptional this year, as always, solidifying its reputation as a cornerstone of the library copyright community.”
He continued, “Renowned for its insightful sessions and distinguished speakers, the conference provided invaluable updates and discussions on the ever-evolving landscape of copyright law. Attendees benefited from a rich exchange of ideas and best practices, fostering a collaborative environment that is crucial for navigating the complexities of copyright in libraries. Year after year, the Kraemer Copyright Conference stands out not just for its high-caliber content, but also for its role in strengthening the network of professionals dedicated to copyright issues, making it an indispensable event for anyone in the field.”
Dean of the Kraemer Family Library & Senior Executive Director at UCCS Seth M. Porter also emphasized the importance of addressing AI and innovation in higher education: “In higher education, we must proactively tackle AI and innovation to ensure we remain at the forefront of technological advancements.”
Plans for next year’s conference are already under way.