President Obama Sends Two WIPO Copyright Treaties To US Senate For Ratification

Today, United States President Barack Obama sent two signed multilateral copyright treaties negotiated at the World Intellectual Property Organization to the US Senate for ratification.

The treaties are the 2012 Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and the 2013 Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired.

The White House sent similar messages to the Senate dated 10 February. The Beijing message is here.

The Marrakesh message could not be loaded at press time, so is included in full below.

Prospects

No direct information was available at press time as to why they were sent today, nor on their prospects for passage in the Senate.

A representative of the World Blind Union, which helped author the treaty at WIPO, told the A2K list of Knowledge Ecology International that their sources indicated a hearing on Marrakesh might be held in March.

In an initial reaction, one source raised a question of whether a minor change to US copyright law might be needed, which remains to be seen.

IP-Watch past reporting on the Beijing Treaty is available here, and on the Marrakesh Treaty is available here.

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Marrakesh message:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release February 10, 2016
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, done at Marrakesh on June 27, 2013 (Marrakesh Treaty). I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, a report of the Secretary of State with respect to the Marrakesh Treaty that includes a summary of its provisions.
This copyright treaty, concluded under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), advances the national interest of the United States in promoting the protection and enjoyment of creative works. The Marrakesh Treaty lays a foundation, in a manner consistent with existing international copyright standards, for further opening up a world of knowledge for persons with print disabilities by improving their access to published works.
The United States played a leadership role in the negotiation of the treaty, and its provisions are broadly consistent with the approach and structure of existing U.S. law. Narrow changes in U.S. law will be needed for the United States to implement certain provisions of the treaty. Proposed legislation is being submitted to both houses of the Congress in conjunction with this transmittal.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Marrakesh Treaty, and give its advice and consent to its ratification.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 10, 2016.
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