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</style><title>July 24, 2002</title><div class="original-url"><br><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/2017washingtonseminar/final_2017_marrakesh_treaty_fact_sheet.docx">https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/2017washingtonseminar/final_2017_marrakesh_treaty_fact_sheet.docx</a><br><br></div><div id="article" role="article" style="text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" class="system exported">
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<div class="page" style="text-align: start; word-wrap: break-word; max-width: 100%;"><h1 class="title" style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: start; -webkit-hyphens: manual; display: block; max-width: 100%;">July 24, 2002</h1><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh Treaty)</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><div style="max-width: 100%;"><div style="max-width: 100%;"><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">An international copyright treaty will give blin</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">d Americans access to millions </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">of </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><br style="max-width: 100%;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">published works and improve the distribution of books </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">around</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> the globe.</span></span></p></div><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></div><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Millions of Americans are being denied access to published works.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Despite the ability to convert print books into accessible formats like Braille, audio, and digital copies, over 95 percent of published works are unavailable to people with print disabilities.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> Literacy and equal participation in society are critical elements of a fulfilling and independent life, but until uniformity is built into the </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">international copyright </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">system</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, blind Americans </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">will be excluded from accessing works</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">. A blind student seeking to learn Spanish will likely struggle to find an accessible </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">format</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">; </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">a work printed in English may have already been converted into an accessible format overseas, but because copies are not </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">exchanged</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> across borders, domestic </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">entities</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> might need to make a duplicate copy</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> or just might deny access altogether by failing to reproduce the work</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">. </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">An uncoordinated legal approach prevents the cross-border exchange of accessible books.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Unlike the United States, where copyright law includes the Chafee Amendment and other exceptions,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> two-thirds of the world’s nations do not have </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">domestic copyright law</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">s</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">that </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">permit making copies for the blind, limiting the number of works</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> available</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> in an accessible format. Moreover, many countries consider distribution of accessible copies an infringement as well, and even amongst nations that permit distribution, limitations vary. Instead of exchanging books across borders, works are needlessly duplicated</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, and circulation </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">is significantly limited.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted to achieve this goal.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">On June 27,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> 2013, a diplomatic </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">conference convened by </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">the World Intellectual Property Organization, (</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">WIPO</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">)</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> in Morocco adopted the </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Marrakesh Treaty wi</span></span><a name="_GoBack" style="text-decoration: none; max-width: 100%;"></a><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">th enthusiastic support from the US delegation. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">The </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">t</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">reaty</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, signed by the US</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> on October 2, 2013</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, currently has eighty-eight</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> signatori</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">es, has been ratified by twenty-five</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> countries</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> and has entered into force as of September 30, 2016.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">The Marrakesh Treaty has broad stakeholder support.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Blind people </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">should</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> have full and equal access to all works that enrich lives, further education</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> and share critical information</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">; the treaty balances this priority with the interests of rights holders</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">WIPO’s adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty was supported by American-based companies,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> the international publishing community,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> legal experts,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> and blindness advocates.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> The treaty will have tangible benefits for all involved. This is why Congress must act swiftly to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty and pass its associated implementing legislation.</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">The </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Marrakesh Treaty</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> calls for contracting parties to provide in their national copyright laws for a limitation or exception that allows for the</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Reproduction of works by an authorized entity for the purposes of converting them into accessible format copies exclusively for beneficiary persons. </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Distribution of accessible format copies exclusively to beneficiary persons</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Import of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them available domestically</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Export of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them available to a beneficiary person in another country </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><div style="max-width: 100%;"><div style="max-width: 100%;"><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Remove Barriers to Access of Published Works.</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Support ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty.</span></span></p></div><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></div><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">For more information</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> contact:</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">National Federation of the Blind</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Phone: <a href="tel:(410) 659-9314" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">(410) 659-9314</a>, extension 2206, E</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">mail: </span></span><a href="mailto:gcazares@nfb.org" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">gcazares@nfb.org</span></span></a></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><div style="max-width: 100%;"><div style="max-width: 100%;"><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Mark Riccobono</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">President</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> |</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">200 East Wells Street </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">at Jernigan Place</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Baltimore, M</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">D</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> 21230</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> | </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="tel:410 659 9314" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">410 659 9314</a></span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> | </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a></span></span></p></div><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div><br><br>Jim McCollum<div>Legislative Co-ordinator</div><div>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut</div><div><a href="mailto:j.mccollum64@comcast.net">j.mccollum64@comcast.net</a></div><div>860-581-0430</div><div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div></body></html>