"This work is not just another monograph on copyright and neighbouring rights. It represents a fundamental contribution to study of this discipline made, in response to UNESCO’s request, by the eminent specialist on the subject, Professor Delia Lipszyc [...] UNESCO’s programme for the promotion of teaching of copyright and neighbouring rights has sought to devise appropriate draft syllabuses, while encouraging the establishment of professorships for the study of this discipline in universities. In collaboration with eminent experts in each region, the proposed syllabuses have already been brought into line with the legal contexts of Latin America, French-speaking Africa, the Arab States, the Asian and Pacific region, English-speaking Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The updated version of this work, the Spanish original of which was published in 1993, is an additional contribution to this endeavour. It responds to the deeply felt concern of universities to see the teaching programmes adopted by them supported by a work which covers the subject in its every aspect, its basis being statute law throughout the world and the experience of its application. Professor Lipszyc’s work represents a remarkable contribution in this respect. It gives the teaching of copyright and neighbouring rights a greater operational dimension in a universal context. Set out as a university manual, it presents, with its clear and searching approach, the many and varied aspects of this important legal discipline as reflected in the different laws throughout the world, the relevant international conventions and current international thinking on the subject, in the light of technological progress in the methods of creation, production and dissemination of works of the mind. It offers appropriate clarification of legal concepts hitherto the province of specialists, and makes them more readily understood. This work is, in short, a precious resource with which students and specialists in copyright and neighbouring rights can be provided, and an invaluable tool in aiding the various parties involved in cultural activity to organize their professional relationships on a sound and equitable basis." (Preface)