May 29 2009
Obama Administration Sides with Publishers to Block International Access for Disabled Readers
This article by James Love is worth a read.
I am attending a meeting in Geneva of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This evening the United States government, in combination with other high income countries in “Group B” is seeking to block an agreement to discuss a treaty for persons who are blind or have other reading disabilities. …. The main aim of the treaty is to allow the cross-border import and export of digital copies of books and other copyrighted works in formats that are accessible to persons who are blind, visually impaired, dyslexic or have other reading disabilities, using special devices that present text as refreshable braille, computer generated text to speech, or large type. These works, which are expensive to make, are typically created under national exceptions to copyright law that are specifically written to benefit persons with disabilities.
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May 29, 2009 @ 08:57:43
Well, I can kind of see issues here. It extends to formats like “large type” which certainly are not difficult and expensive to make. So it would immediately become a loophole. I certainly think formats like braille should be exempt.
May 29, 2009 @ 22:14:00
This makes me so angry and sad that I don’t even really have a coherent reaction other than an urge to cry and/or rage. I hope this treaty does make it through the proceedings.
May 30, 2009 @ 15:36:00
Truly Sickened.
Like Shannon, I hope this Treaty does not make it through. Not only for people that are blind/VI, but also for our soldiers/heroes that have lost their arms in battle… unable to pick up a book.
For all people who are print reading disabled, I hope our President does not let this happen…..