[nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l]Stevie Wonder to UN: Ease Copyrights for the Blind

Thu Sep 23 00:27:31 UTC 2010

I didn't hear him say it and I just heard the presentation.  And, if he did, 
I think it was a symbolism to show that people who are able to access 
material are, in fact, living in the dark.

Lots of truth to that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 3:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l]Stevie Wonder to 
UN: Ease Copyrights for the Blind

>I agree with you John:  we don't know for a fact what Stevie Wonder said 
>and this is to important to be consumed by blindness politics.
>
> Dave
>
> At 01:58 PM 9/21/2010, you wrote:
>>The truth is that Stevie Wonder is trying to do a very good thing for 
>>blind people all over the world. To attack him for a unfortunate choice of 
>>words is unfair. It amazes  me how all of a sudden, people on this list 
>>are into PC language.
>>
>>The truth is that Stevie Wonder's choice of words is not the main issue 
>>here. The real issue is getting those treaty exceptions ratified. As I 
>>explained, the treaty exceptions Mr. Wonder is working for would 
>>essentially allow bookshare.org to go international.  That would be a very 
>>good thing.
>>
>>I believe that the NFB is in favor of that too. So is bookshare, and yes, 
>>so is the ACB.
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Gloria Whipple" 
>><fairyfoot at webband.com>
>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 11:11 AM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l]Stevie Wonderto 
>>UN: Ease Copyrights for theBlind
>>
>>
>>>Cannot except the truth?
>>>
>>>Believe what you want.
>>>
>>>
>>>Gloria Whipple
>>>Corrisponding secretary
>>>Inland Empire chapter
>>>nfb of WA
>>>
>>>cell number: 509-475-4993
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>Behalf Of John Heim
>>>Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 8:19 AM
>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie 
>>>Wonderto
>>>UN: Ease Copyrights for theBlind
>>>
>>>Rubbish is a bit strong, don't you think?
>>>
>>>PS: I saw another article on the same issue and "in the dark" is a direct
>>>quote. Apparently, Stevie Wonder used that term. But again, while it 
>>>might
>>>not be the best choice of terms, its not a key point. Lets not throw the
>>>baby out with the bath water. Mr. Wonder is going a good thing here. If 
>>>you
>>>have ever wondered why more promenent  blindpeople don't get involved in
>>>blid issues, you may have the reason right here.
>>>
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Gloria Whipple" 
>>><fairyfoot at webband.com>
>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:01 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie 
>>>Wonderto
>>>UN: Ease Copyrights for theBlind
>>>
>>>
>>>>That is why I deleted it.
>>>>
>>>>What rubbish!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Gloria Whipple
>>>>Corrisponding secretary
>>>>Inland Empire chapter
>>>>nfb of WA
>>>>
>>>>cell number: 509-475-4993
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>>On
>>>>Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr
>>>>Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 7:48 AM
>>>>To: Sherri
>>>>Cc: vrstream at vrstreamusers.org; NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Vrstream] Fw: [fcb-l] FW: [acb-l] Stevie Wonder
>>>>to
>>>>UN: 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.''
>
>                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
> Follow me on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
>
>
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