International Authors Forum

International Authors Forum
Name	International Authors Forum
Abbreviation	IAF
Formation	2004
Type	Non-governmental organization
Purpose	Advocacy for authors' rights
Headquarters	London
Region served	International
Language	English
Leader title	Chair

Contents

History
Mission and Objectives
Membership and Governance
Activities and Programs
Advocacy and Policy Work
Funding and Partnerships

International Authors Forum is an international network that represents writers, novelists, poets, dramatists, screenwriters, translators, and composers through a federation of authors' organizations. It connects national and regional groups to engage with institutions, treaties, collective management organizations, publishers, broadcasters, and digital platforms to promote authors' rights and remuneration. The Forum interacts with bodies such as the European Commission, World Intellectual Property Organization, United Nations, Council of Europe, and regional coalitions like the African Union and ASEAN.

History

The organization was founded in 2004 amid debates involving stakeholders like WIPO delegates, European Writers' Council members, and representatives from groups such as Society of Authors (United Kingdom), Australian Society of Authors, Canadian Authors Association, and Writers' Union of Canada. Early convenings featured figures from Authors' Guild (United States), German PEN, French PEN Club, Swedish Writers' Union, and advocates who had engaged with instruments like the Berne Convention and the TRIPS Agreement. During its formation era the Forum liaised with entities including the International Federation of Journalists, International Publishers Association, International Federation of Musicians, and national collecting societies such as PRS for Music, ASCAP, BMI, GEMA, and SACEM. Founders referenced precedents involving the Universal Copyright Convention and responses to cases before bodies like the European Court of Human Rights and national courts in United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and India.

Mission and Objectives

The Forum aims to defend authors' moral and economic rights recognized in instruments like the Berne Convention and to influence policy at institutions including World Intellectual Property Organization, European Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and regional parliaments such as the European Parliament and the Latin American Parliament. Objectives include engaging with national ministries—examples being Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (United Kingdom), United States Copyright Office, Canadian Heritage, Ministry of Culture (France), and Ministry of Culture and Tourism (China)—and with supranational frameworks like NAFTA negotiators, African Continental Free Trade Area officials, and ASEAN copyright committees. The Forum supports initiatives resonant with awards and institutions such as the Nobel Prize in Literature, Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Prix Goncourt, and festivals like the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Frankfurt Book Fair.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises national authors' organizations, NGOs, and federations including Society of Authors (United Kingdom), Authors' Guild (United States), Writers' Union of Canada, Australian Society of Authors, German PEN, French PEN Club, PEN International, Writers' Union of Norway, Swedish Authors' Association, Japanese Writers' Association, Korean Writers Association, Indian Authors Guild, South African Authors' Association, Brazilian Writers' Union, Mexican Writers' Centre, Argentine Writers' Federation, Colombian Writers' Guild, Chile Writers' Association, Peruvian Writers' Network, and other national bodies. Governance features a board chaired by elected figures drawn from member organizations and advisory input from stakeholders like collective management organizations such as Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (Spain), Chapter of Authors (Italy), Norwegian Performing Rights Organization, Dutch Authors' Guild, and academic partners from universities like University of Oxford, Harvard University, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, and University of Cape Town.

Activities and Programs

Programs include capacity-building workshops with partners such as British Council, Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française, Asia-Europe Foundation, and UNESCO offices; training for negotiators and creators formerly involved with WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights sessions; conferences at venues like Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, BookExpo America, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and Hay Festival; and collaborations with organizations including International Publishers Association, European Writers' Council, International Federation of Musicians, Writers Without Borders, and the International Association of Theatre Critics. Initiatives have engaged with programs and awards including the Man Booker International Prize, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Prince Claus Fund, MacArthur Fellows Program, and fellowship schemes at institutions like Yale University and Columbia University.

Advocacy and Policy Work

The Forum conducts advocacy at forums such as World Intellectual Property Organization assemblies, European Commission consultations, United Nations cultural committees, and national legislatures including sessions at the United States Congress and the UK Parliament. Policy campaigns have addressed matters involving digital platforms such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon (company), and Apple Inc.; collective bargaining and licensing models involving ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, GEMA, and SACEM; and statutory debates around directives like the EU Copyright Directive and bilateral agreements including Trans-Pacific Partnership drafts and EU–US trade discussions. The Forum has joined coalitions with Electronic Frontier Foundation-adjacent groups, academic networks like CIPIL (University of Cambridge), and cultural institutions including British Library, Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and National Library of Australia.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include membership dues from organizations such as Society of Authors (United Kingdom), grants and project support from cultural agencies like British Council, Goethe-Institut, European Cultural Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, foundations including Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and restricted project funding linked to program partners such as UNESCO and WIPO. Partnerships extend to industry groups like International Publishers Association, technology firms including Google, Microsoft, Amazon (company), and collective management organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, GEMA, and SACEM. Collaborative research has involved universities and think tanks including University of Oxford, Harvard University, London School of Economics, Chatham House, and Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.