[nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie Wonder toUN: Ease Copyrights for theBlind

John Heim john at johnheim.net
Tue Sep 21 15:12:41 UTC 2010


First of all, that was not a direct quote.  Its not clear from the article 
that Stevie Wonder used those exact words. The author of the article may 
have chosen them. But beyond that, its not a big deal. Its probably not the 
best choice of words but its Stevie Wonder's actions that matter.

Anyone familiar with Bookshare can understand the importance of this issue. 
When I get stuck on a technical issue, I often go to bookshare.org to look 
for a technical manual on the problem. I can't just run down to Barnes & 
Noble and pick up a book and start leafing through it. My only option is 
bookshare and NLS. But the copyright exceptions that make bookshare and NLS 
possible don't apply internationally.

What Stevie Wonder is pushing for is a  proposed treaty that would make 
international copyright exceptions similar to those that allow bookshare.org 
to exist in the USA. The strongest opposition  to the treaty has come from 
the European Union and the United States. This is, no doubt, due to the 
power of the publishing industry in those countries. The USA recently 
moderated its stance quite a bit. I have not heard that the EU followed 
suit.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
Cc: <vrstream at vrstreamusers.org>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie Wonder 
toUN: Ease Copyrights for theBlind


>I have a problem with his phrase, "live in the dark.  What a picture of 
>blindness.  Yes, we need access to books; but, at this price?  What can one 
>expect from folks who think there's no day or night for the blind?  I must 
>protest!!!
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> A Very Proud and Happy Mac User!!!
>
> E-Mail:
> rforetjr at comcast dot net
> Skype Name:
> barefootedray
>
> On Sep 21, 2010, at 9:15 AM, Sherri wrote:
>
> Passing this along. Thought this was interesting!
>
> Sherri
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edwards, Paul" <pedwards at mdc.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:48 AM
> Subject: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie Wonder to UN: Ease Copyrights for 
> theBlind
>
>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: acb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of 
>> John Heim
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:46 AM
>> To: acb-l at acb.org
>> Subject: [acb-l] Stevie Wonder to UN: Ease Copyrights for the Blind
>>
>> Relevant to our recent discussion about people who have "made it".
>> --- Stevie Wonder to UN: Ease Copyrights for the Blind
>> GENEVA (AP) -- Stevie Wonder pressed global copyright overseers on Monday 
>> to
>> help blind and visually impaired people access millions of science, 
>> history
>> and other audiobooks, which they cannot read in electronic form.
>> The blind singer told the U.N.'s 184-nation World Intellectual Property
>> Organization that more than 300 million people who ''live in the dark'' 
>> want
>> to ''read their way into light,'' and the current copyright system denies
>> them an equal opportunity.
>>
>> The current legal framework means that institutes for the blind in 
>> different
>> countries may be required to make multiple audiobook versions of the same
>> work, said Richard Owens, WIPO's director of copyright and electronic
>> commerce.
>>
>> Owens said this leads to higher costs that are passed on to the 
>> listeners.
>> It also limits access to blind and partially blind people in poor 
>> countries,
>> which cannot afford to make their own versions of everything from science
>> textbooks to best-sellers, he said.
>>
>> The U.N. agency has been trying for six years to revamp its global 
>> copyright
>> framework so that it better accounts for new media, such as audiobooks. 
>> For
>> the blind and visually impaired, the goal is to create a clearinghouse so
>> that published material can be traded around the world and translated 
>> into
>> new, readable formats.
>>
>> But the problem of access for such copyrighted material goes to the heart 
>> of
>> a growing crisis in the world of copyright protection, as the Internet
>> increasingly muddies laws that were created for traditional media. 
>> Whereas
>> wide exceptions exist for books in Braille, WIPO officials say there is
>> confusion over how these benefits can be translated into the digital age.
>>
>> Proponents of a new agreement say the same benefits that digital books
>> provide most consumers -- lower costs and better storage and
>> accessibility -- should be extended to those with disabilities. The 
>> United
>> States and European nations that export large amounts of published 
>> material
>> are somewhat hesitant because of concerns over an erosion of intellectual
>> property rights, and want to avoid a binding treaty.
>>
>> Wonder called for a compromise and teased the diplomats.
>>
>> ''Please work it out. Or I'll have to write a song about what you didn't
>> do,'' said the 60-year-old singer known for such hits as ''Superstition''
>> and ''I Just Called to Say I Love You.''
>>
>> Complicating the talks are the demands of African countries, which are
>> seeking even larger copyright loopholes. They want their libraries and
>> academic institutions to be able to skip licensing agreements so that 
>> they
>> can provide audiobook access for larger communities.
>>
>> Wonder, who has sold tens of million of albums, said any agreement should
>> respect the authors ''who labor to create the great works that enlighten 
>> and
>> nourish our minds, hearts and souls.'' He insisted on a practical 
>> solution
>> so that blind and visually impaired people get ''the tools to think their
>> way out of poverty.''
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Iavicp mailing list
>> Iavicp at ultragroups.net
>> http://ultragroups.net/mailman/listinfo/iavicp_ultragroups.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> acb-l mailing list
>> acb-l at acb.org
>> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-l
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> fcb-l mailing list
>> fcb-l at acb.org
>> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/fcb-l
>
>
> The VR Stream list is configured so that when using Control-R in most 
> e-mail programs, message replies will go directly to the sender of the 
> message. To reply to the entire list, use the "reply all" function of your 
> e-mail program; usually 
> Control-Shift-R._______________________________________________
> Vrstream mailing list
> Vrstream at vrstreamusers.org
> http://vrstreamusers.org/mailman/listinfo/vrstream_vrstreamusers.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> 





More information about the nFB-Talk mailing list