Which “Brazil” Will Chair The Marrakesh Treaty Assembly? 11/10/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The supposedly impossible happened: The Marrakesh Treaty entered into force on 30 September, three months after reaching the necessary minimum of 20 ratifications. By then, 22 countries had done so – two more did so during the Marrakesh Assembly.
Vibrant Lauding Of “Historic” Marrakesh Treaty For The Blind At WIPO 06/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment “Great victory”, “life-changing”, “historic milestone” – no adjectives were strong enough yesterday to celebrate the entry into force of the Marrakesh treaty at the World Intellectual Property Organization. The treaty, which went into effect on 30 September, “opens the door to the world’s knowledge,” to visually impaired people, but will need many more countries to join, in particular countries that are major producers of special format books – the United States and the European Union.
Big Week For WIPO Marrakesh Treaty On Access For Visually Impaired; Human Rights Side Under Focus 03/10/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization treaty on copyright exceptions for print-disabled readers entered into effect on 30 September, and trading in accessible format works began immediately. This week, the treaty will be a highlight of the annual WIPO General Assemblies, and is expected to come up at the parallel UN Social Forum taking place next door.
Judge’s Opinion That EU Is Competent To Ratify Marrakesh Treaty Might Break Standstill 14/09/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The European Union has exclusive competence to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired people, the advocate general of the Court of Justice of the EU has found. This conclusion, which was well-received by representatives of the visually impaired, could speed up the ratification of the treaty by the EU.
Industry Proposals Contrary To Spirit Of Marrakesh Treaty, Libraries Say 02/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An international group of librarians has warned that rights holder organisations in some countries are promoting provisions that restrict and impede the access envisaged by the Marrakesh Treaty providing exceptions to copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.
A Look At The Marrakesh Treaty Ratification In Brazil 14/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Marrakesh Treaty, first of its kind, will enter into force three months after the deposit of the instruments of ratification or accession by 20 eligible countries. So far, thirteen have done so. Brazil, which was one of the main proponents and negotiators, deposited its ratification of the treaty on December 11, 2015, after the yearlong internal legislative process. The key question we are trying to face here is how the ratification of this treaty may impact Brazilian copyright legislation and the interpretation of the limitations.
Brazil, Australia Ratify Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired, Seven To Go 17/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty which is expected to facilitate access to special format works for blind and visually impaired people gained two more ratifications, bringing the accession to the treaty to 13. The treaty will enter into force three months after the accession of the 20th member.
Germany, Italy Leading Resistance To EU Ratification Of Marrakesh Treaty, Blind Union Says 10/12/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Two and a half years after an international treaty was adopted to facilitate access to special format literary works for blind and visually impaired people, the European Blind Union blames the failure of the European Union to ratify it as a failure to implement the right to read in the EU.
New UNDP-Blind Union Report Helps Asia-Pacific Nations Ratify Marrakesh Treaty 03/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Development Programme joined forces with the World Blind Union to prepare a new report aimed at facilitating Asia-Pacific countries’ ratification of a treaty designed to help visually-impaired people access special format books.
WIPO Marrakesh Treaty In Force By Early 2016? Now Part Of Bigger UN Process 12/06/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The 2013 World Intellectual Property Organization treaty on access to published works for print-disabled readers may go into effect by early 2016. And the treaty has become part of a bigger process at the United Nations on the rights of persons with disabilities, speakers at UN headquarters in New York said this week.