This meeting, organized by the International Publishers Association (IPA), was held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from December 4 to 6 and hosted by the National Chamber of the Mexican Publishing Industry (CANIEM, for its initials in Spanish).
(December 9, 2024). Editorial Funglode, part of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, participated in the 34th International Publishers Congress, organized by the International Publishers Association (IPA), held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from December 4 to 6, and hosted by the National Chamber of the Mexican Publishing Industry (CANIEM, for its initials in Spanish).
This congress is a biennial event that brings together the most prominent figures in the publishing and book world. This edition took place at the University Center for Performing Arts of the University of Guadalajara, in collaboration with the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), which was held from November 29 to December 8. It was sponsored by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).
The opening ceremony, on Wednesday, December 4, was led by Karine Pansa, President of the IPA, and Hugo Setzer, President of CANIEM, who emphasized the importance of international collaboration in strengthening the values of freedom of expression and copyright in the publishing industry.
The program began with a keynote lecture on “Freedom of Expression,” delivered by renowned Mexican publisher and historian Enrique Krauze, who addressed the challenges and opportunities for the industry in the global context.
Several panels were held covering crucial topics for the publishing sector: “The Pillars of the Publishing Industry: Copyright Driving Freedom of Expression,” featuring Brian Murray (HarperCollins Publishers – USA), Jesús Badenes (Editorial Planeta – Spain), and Brian Wafawarowa (Juta Press – South Africa).
“Reading and Promoting Reading: Cornerstones of Democratic Society,” with Miha Kovac (University of Ljubljana – Slovenia), Margarita Cuéllar Barona (CERLALC – Colombia), and Kristenn Einarsson (Wexfo – Norway).
“Copyright Reservation: Enforceability of the Exclusion Mechanism,” featuring Mitchell Bakos (American Chemical Society – USA), Dolores Sancha (Penguin Random House – Spain), and Eduardo de la Parra (De la Parra & Asociados – Mexico).
Researcher Staffan Lindberg from the V-Dem Institute presented a global overview of democracy, its indicators, and freedoms, highlighting how political changes directly impact freedom of expression and, consequently, publishing.
“The Importance of Publishing: Trust Builders in the Age of Disinformation,” featuring Sharon Hague (Pearson – USA), Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki (Springer Nature – USA), Ed Nawotka (USA), and Caroline Sutton (STM – USA).
“From Liberté to Libertad: Publishing Freedom in the Americas,” with contributions from Staffan Lindberg (V-Dem Institute – Sweden), José Ignacio Echeverría (GIE – Mexico), Simon de Jocas (Les 400 Coups – Canada), and Ana María Cabanellas (GIE – Argentina).
“Copyright and AI: What You Need to Know About Laws, Policies, and Ethics,” led by Maria Strong (USCO – USA), Ibán García del Blanco (Former Member of the European Parliament – Spain), and Maria Pallante (AAP – USA).
To conclude the first day, the panel “School Books Behind Bars? Education and Publishing Freedom” featured Hugo Setzer (CANIEM – Mexico), Terry Hart (AAP – USA), Gvantsa Jobava (IPA – Georgia), Carlos Mancera (Former Undersecretary of Education – Mexico), and Stephan de Valk (MEVW – Netherlands).
On the second day, the keynote speech “The Power of Publishing: Restoring Information Integrity” was delivered by Melissa Fleming, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Global Communications, who examined the link between publishing and access to reliable information in the publishing world.
A panel on “The Impact of Generation Z on Publishing, Culture, and Innovation” was held, featuring James Taylor (Switzerland) and Sisel Gelman (Mexico), a BookToker and founder of SIEVA magazine, analyzing the influence of social media on publishing and how Generation Z is redefining reading habits.
Ruth Cerezo Mota (Mexico), climatologist and co-chair of the American Monsoon Panel of CLIVAR GEWEX, and Michiel Kolman (Netherlands) from Elsevier, discussed “Strategies and Stories to Combat Climate Change,” highlighting the power of storytelling and how publishers can leverage it to influence climate action.
The third panel, “Opening a New Chapter on Diversity and Inclusion,” was led by Lawrence Schimel, Spanish writer and translator, and Rachel Martin (Netherlands), addressing ethical, cultural, and creative challenges authors and publishers face in representing specific individuals, groups, or communities authentically.
Dalton Morato (Brazil), Legal and Government Relations Director of the Brazilian Association of Reprographic Rights (ABDR); Catriona Stevenson (United Kingdom), General Counsel and Deputy CEO of the Publishers Association; and Lui Simpson (USA) from the Association of American Publishers (AAP), opened the panels with the debate “Effective Remedies for Enforcing Copyright Online: An Analysis of Enforcement Frameworks,” discussing existing resources and frameworks against unauthorized copies of books and journal articles and how some have become ineffective due to the widespread reach of online piracy.
In the panel “How to Promote the Trinity of Freedoms: Expression, Publishing, and Reading,” Jennifer Clement (Mexico), writer and former president of PEN International; Jonathan Hernández Pérez (Mexico), president of the IFLA Committee; Sherif Bakr (Egypt), from Al Arabi; and Juergen Boss (Germany), discussed the three freedoms that protect writers, publishers, and readers, showcasing successful case studies that could be replicated.
A second keynote lecture, on December 5, was delivered by Oleksandra Matviichuk from the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, who spoke about the significant challenges facing the publishing industry and publishers in conflict-ridden countries, highlighting the work of writers and publishers in Ukraine.
Other panels included “How to Promote the Trinity of Freedoms: Expression, Publishing, and Reading,” featuring Dante Cid (Brazil), Vice President of Strategic Networks for Latin America at Elsevier; Quetzalli de la Concha (Mexico), Head of Legal and Copyright at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico; Dr. Silke Von Lewinski (Germany), professor at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property in Munich; and Jessica Sänger.
“Accessibility: How Digital Publishing Can Enhance the Reading Experience for All,” featuring Elisa Molinari, Project Director at Fondazione LIA; Ana María Bermúdez (Mexico), editor at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico; Kristina Kramer (Germany), Deputy Director of European and International Affairs at Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels; and Laura Brady, co-coordinator of the IPA Accessibility Working Group, urging the use of legal frameworks to facilitate book creation.
“Communicating the Value of Publishing: How Publishers’ Associations Can Advocate for Publishing to Policymakers and the Public,” the final panel, featured Richard Charkin, former president of the International Publishers Association and the UK Publishers Association; Brian Wafawarowa (South Africa), Content and Production Director at Juta Press; Javier López Llovet (Argentina), General Director for Latin America at Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial; and Zhang Mighzhou, founding president of the Lifetree Cultural Promotion Center, emphasizing the value of publishing and the editor’s involvement in the creative process without interfering with the author’s vision.
The final keynote lecture was given by Sylvie Forbin (Switzerland), Deputy Director General of WIPO, highlighting the importance of copyright and the challenges it faces in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and disinformation.
To conclude the 34th International Publishers Congress, Christie Henry (USA), Director of Princeton University, and Hugo Setzer, President of CANIEM, thanked all attendees and announced that the 35th International Publishers Congress will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
