[nfbwatlk] FW: [Viewpoints] Group finalizes treaty to expand book access for world's blind community

[Mary ellen]

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Subject: [Viewpoints] Group finalizes treaty to expand book access for
world's blind community


Group finalizes treaty to expand book access for world's blind community

TheWashingtonPost, June 26, 2013. 
By Hayley Tsukayama and Tom Hamburger 

Negotiators at the World Intellectual Property Organization have finalized
terms on a copyright treaty that would provide more book access to the
world's blind and visually impaired.

Blind singer Stevie Wonder, right, promised to perform for negotiators when
they finalize the treaty. (Michael Loccisano - GETTY IMAGES) The treaty
makes it legal to make copies of copyrighted material accessible to the
blind community by converting it to formats such as Braille books, audio
recordings or large-print books without first having to seek permission from
copyright holders in every instance. 

Advocates for the visually impaired say that fewer than one percent of all
the world's books are accessible in these formats. The treaty would make it
possible for converted texts in a given language to be available in multiple
countries. 

As The Washington Post has reported, the treaty had run into some trouble
between advocates and organizations such as the Motion Picture Association
of America. At issue were provisions dealing with fair use and the
implementation of a "three-step test" that would have prevented groups from
converting works if it interfered with a copyright owner's ability to profit
from the books. The two factions clashed over whether the treaty could wind
up affecting other types of copyrighted material, such as movies or videos.

The full text of the treaty, which was finalized Wednesday at the WIPO
Diplomatic Conference in Morocco, has not been released publicly. But
leaders of a coalition that has been fighting for blind access to published
material declared victory over the MPAA and a corporate coalition in winning
U.S. and international support for the pact.

"We are very happy with the agreement,"said James Love, of Knowledge Ecology
International, a nonprofit that has advocated for the treaty. He and others
expressed a mix and amazement and pleasure over the result. He said that
final language blocked efforts by the motion picture industry to apply new
tests for exceptions to copyright rules. 

Carrie Russell of the Library Copyright Alliance said the librarians group
applauds "the world delegates for approving a treaty that makes it possible
for every visually-impaired person around the world to have fair access to
reading materials." 

The MPAA and the National Federation for the Blind also hailed the treaty's
final language in a joint statement issued Wednesday. 

"We are pleased that the negotiations in Marrakech have resulted in a treaty
that we believe will significantly increase access to published works for
the blind and visually impaired," MPAA president Christopher Dodd said in
the statement. "Working collectively, and with goodwill, we have created a
vehicle that will serve a meaningful and important purpose for many years to
come."

Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind said: ."This
historic treaty, the first-ever international instrument specifically
addressing the needs of the world's blind, will dramatically increase access
to published works and the empowering information and ideas that they
contain by a community that has traditionally experienced barriers to
obtaining the world's knowledge." 

Negotiators said they expect the treaty to be formally adopted and signed by
the end of the week. 

Last week, blind singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder promised that he would
perform for the WIPO negotiators once the treaty was completed. According to
the World Blind Union, the multiple Grammy award winner will honor his
pledge on Friday at the treaty signing ceremony and celebration in
Marrakesh.

By Hayley Tsukayama and Tom Hamburger  |  04:15 PM ET, 06/26/2013 

from:http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/group-finalizes-trea
ty-to-expand-book-access-for-worlds-blind-community/2013/06/26/461311fe-de83
-11e2-948c-d644453cf169_blog.html?wprss=rss_blogsandcolumns&tid=pp_widget


end of article.



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