[nfbmi-talk] this is revolutionary!!!

[joe harcz Comcast]

National Federation of the Blind Applauds Landmark Court Ruling | SYS-CON MEDIA

 

Decision Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books

 

BALTIMORE, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

The National Federation of the Blind

(NFB) today applauded a decision issued on October 10, 2012, by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which permits the distribution

of millions of books to blind and print-disabled people.  The ruling in Authors Guild, Inc., et al., v. HathiTrust, et al. (Case number: No. 11-cv-6351-HB)

held that providing access for students with print disabilities constitutes a "transformative use" under the fair use provision of the Copyright Act and

the Americans with Disabilities Act and that Section 121 of the Copyright Act (the "Chafee Amendment") permits university libraries to digitize their collections

for distribution and use by the blind.  As a result, the University of Michigan will now be permitted to make its entire 10 million volume digital collection

available to all blind Americans, revolutionizing access to digital books by the blind and print disabled.

 

(Logo:

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120815/MM57966LOGO)

 

The ruling is part of the court's decision to grant the NFB's and HathiTrust's motions for summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by the Authors Guild against

the HathiTrust, a repository of several university library collections scanned by Google, and participating universities.  The Authors Guild alleged the

HathiTrust and universities violated the Copyright Act by engaging in mass digitization of their collections.  Because these works represent the largest

collection of works accessible to the blind and print disabled, the NFB intervened in the lawsuit.

 

Dr. Marc Maurer,

President of the

National Federation of the Blind,

said: "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the greatest challenges faced by the blind.  The landmark decision by the United States District

Court for the Southern District of New York will revolutionize access to books for the blind.  For the first time ever, blind students and scholars will

have the opportunity to participate equally in library research.  The blind, just like the sighted, will have a world of education and information at their

fingertips.  The National Federation of the Blind commends the court's decision, which constitutes a significant step toward full and equal access to information

by the blind."

 

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United

States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.

 It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the

Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

 

SOURCE National Federation of the Blind