[A2k] Michael Geist: CNIB Pressures Canadian Government on WIPO Treaty for Reading Disabled

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/3487/125/

CNIB Pressures Canadian Government on WIPO Treaty for Reading Disabled

Friday October 31, 2008

The World Intellectual Property Organization's Standing Committee on
Copyright and Related Rights meets next week in Geneva where a hot
topic may be a proposal from the World Blind Union for the creation of
a new WIPO Treaty for Improved Access for Blind, Visually Impaired and
other Reading Disabled Persons.  The treaty proposal builds on WIPO's
commitment to examine limitations and exceptions by addressing an
obvious need for reform.  Full details on the treaty proposal can be
found here.

The CNIB has written a letter to Canadian officials expressing its
strong support for the treaty.  It notes that an estimated ten percent
of the Canadian population is prevented from reading standard print to
due to a visual, perceptual or physical disability.  While Canada has
a copyright exception that addresses some of these concerns, the CNIB
notes that a treaty would dramatically increase the number of works
available in alternative formats to Canadians.  The group is urging
the Canadian delegation to support the treaty, though some sources say
that Canada is resisting formal support by emphasizing voluntary
measures (the same voluntary measures that have left Canadians with
access to only five percent of published information in alternative
formats).  Rather than remaining silent in Geneva, Canada should be a
leader on this issue by signaling its support for the treaty and
urging other countries to do the same.

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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997