[Nfbmo] News Release: Decision Will Revolutionize BlindPeople's Access to Books

[NJ Lynn]

The following news release is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center
(www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

PRNewswire

October 11, 2012

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.

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/
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-federation-of-the-blind-app
lauds-landmark-court-ruling-173731221.html