Marrakesh VIP Treaty
| Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities | |
|---|---|
| File:Stevie Wonder At Marrakesh DipConf.jpg Stevie Wonder addresses the Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference on 28 June 2013. | |
| Type | multilateral |
| Signed | 28 June 2013 |
| Location | Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Signatories | 79 |
The Marrakesh Treaty, formally the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities, was a treaty signed in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 28 June 2013.[1][2]
The agreement focuses on copyright exceptions to facilitate the creation of accessible versions of books and other copyrighted works. It sets a norm for countries ratifying the Treaty to have a domestic copyright exception covering these activities, and allowing for the import and export of such materials.
A total of 51 countries signed the Treaty as of the close of the diplomatic conference in Marrakesh. A total of 20 countries need to ratify the Treaty for it to go into effect.[3]
This Treaty is the second international trade treaty associated with Marrakesh, the other being the Marrakesh Agreement which established the World Trade Organization in 1994.
On March 27, 2014, Israel passed legislation implementing the Marrakesh Treaty. The Israeli implementing legislation is broader than the language of the treaty in a number of ways.[4]
As of July 6, 2014, a total of 79 countries had signed the Treaty. India ratified the treaty on June 24, 2014 and became the first country to do so.[5] [6]
References
- ^ Diplomatic Conference to Conclude a Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities World Intellectual Property Organization
- ^ Between the lines: Blind people defeat lobbyists in a tussle about copyright The Economist, 20 July 2013
- ^ Stevie Wonder Hails Landmark WIPO Treaty Boosting Access to Books for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons World Intellectual Property Organization
- ^ Israel Technology Law Blog: Israel Implements Marrakesh Treaty
- ^ Contracting Parties > Marrakesh VIP Treaty (Treaty not yet in force) World Intellectual Property Organization
- ^ India ratifies Marrakesh Treaty for visually impaired The Hindu