[Nyabs] Fwd: [Nfbnet-master-list] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Landmark Court Ruling on Access to Books

[Kathryn Carroll]

THIS IS SO GREAT!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-master-list] National Federation of the Blind Applauds
Landmark Court Ruling on Access to Books
To: "nfbnet-master-list at nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-master-list at nfbnet.org>



*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
*Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

 *National Federation of the Blind Applauds Landmark Court Ruling

* *Decision Will Revolutionize Blind People’s Access to Books
*

*Baltimore, Maryland (October 11, 2012): *The National Federation of the
Blind <http://www.nfb.org> (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 <http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio>, President of the National
Federation of the Blind<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>,
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.








-- 
Kathryn Carroll
J.D. Candidate
St. John's University School of Law Class of 2013
kathryn.carroll10 at stjohns.edu
(Ph.) 347-455-1521
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