Last Updated on June 2, 2026, 12:03 pm ET
ARL Public Policy Briefing (May 2026)
In May, the US Congress reintroduced the bipartisan NO FAKES Act with language negotiated by the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) that excludes libraries from liability. A House Congressional Committee advanced H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, under which the librarian of Congress would be appointed and removed by a congressional committee rather than the president; the bill would also decouple the US Copyright Office (USCO) from the Library of Congress. In a Copyright Office oversight hearing, Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter signaled the USCO’s priorities on several issues that are relevant to research libraries.
In 2027, a US district court will hear a trial in a case concerning a research database of copyrighted images compiled by academic AI researchers; read on for a summary of the case and analysis of potential implications for research libraries.
Negotiations on copyright limitations and exceptions began during the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) meeting.
At the ABC Copyright Conference in Canada, CARL and ARL delivered a joint presentation on how publisher contracts prohibiting the use of licensed content for AI training pose serious risks to research and scholarship, and potential activities for CARL and ARL.
ARL continues to advocate for robust funding for the US Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the FY 2027 budget cycle. In Canada, CARL’s pre-budget submission included recommendations for federal investment in Canadian research libraries and knowledge infrastructure.
The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed revisions to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200), with serious implications for library subscriptions and publication costs. ARL has made this initial statement and will be coordinating a formal public comment with our members and external partners.
Read on for more details!
Copyright and Fair Use/Fair Dealing |
Federal Funding for Library Priorities |
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Katherine Klosek at kklosek@arl.org.
