The Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will gather next week in Geneva to discuss the crucial issue of copyright limitations, and notably the World Blind Union’s proposal for a WIPO Treaty on copyright exceptions for the benefit of people with reading disabilities.
According to the SCCR/18 meeting agenda:
The Committee will examine questions of limitations and exceptions regarding education, libraries and disabled persons, particularly visually-impaired persons. It will continue discussions on the protection of audiovisual performances, broadcasting organizations and future work.
Norm-setting on copyright exceptions is essential in the debate of the consumer welfare in the digital environment. The release of a Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy by the European Commission has shown that European policy-makers would be ready to move forward on the issue, although a clear view on the Commission’s prospects has proven difficult.
During the last SCCR meeting in November 2008, TACD asked WIPO delegates to support the WBU proposal.
The forthcoming WIPO discussions will be crucial as to the future shaping of the international legal framework of copyright exceptions. TACD calls on the European Commission to duly consider the proposed Treaty for the benefit of reading disabled persons, wich deserves proper discussion, particularly within the broad context of web accessibility, which is part of the European Internal Market agenda.
The following letter was sent to DG Markt, which represents the European Commission at the SCCR negotiations:
More on the WBU WIPO Treaty proposal on KEI blog.
