Rightholders Issue Statement on “Blind Treaty”

(05.10.2012) The IFJ joined 18 organisations representing creators and rightholders from the creative industries in developing and developed countries around the world, in a joint statement on a new treaty for blind people that is being discussed  at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The group expressed support for a possible international instrument that will improve access for visually-disabled persons while respecting the rights of authors and the existing international copyright framework. They called upon Member States to focus on the clearly defined needs of persons with visual disabilities, and warned that such an exception should not hinder the basic principles of copyright and the rights of authors.

WIPO delegations have been required to comment on a new text which will be discussed at the next session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights from 19 - 23 November.