[A2k] U.S. Chamber of Commerce blogs about its opposition to WIPO Treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities

[James Love]

Mark Esper of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has written a new blog to
complain that the Chamber opposition to the WIPO treaty for persons who
are blind or have other disabilities is misunderstood.  Esper says the
Chamber care about persons with disabilities, up to a point:  "improving
access for one community should not mean that another loses its rights
in the process."

http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/12/access-to-copyrighted-materials.html

Access to Copyrighted Materials

by Mark Esper

Recently, anti-intellectual property rights activists have misstated the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce=E2=80=99s position on access to copyrighted materi=
als
for the visually impaired and other persons with disabilities.

The Chamber supports increased copyright access for the
visually-impaired, including measures currently practiced under U.S. law
that have proven effective in providing access, and promoting
results-oriented solutions to the needs of blind and visually-impaired
persons.

However, the treaty now being proposed would not be compatible with US
copyright laws and norms, and would undermine the goal of expanded
access that we all share. This overreaching treaty would also harm the
rights of authors and other artists, and the incentives necessary for
them to create and commercialize their works. We strongly believe
improving access for one community should not mean that another loses
its rights in the process.

The Chamber stands ready to work on practical ways to support more
efficient and expedited access for the visually impaired, in partnership
with all stakeholders, to achieve these important outcomes.

--
James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
http://www.keionline.org | http://www.twitter.com/jamie_love
Wk: +1.202.332.2670 | US Mobile +1.202.361.3040 | Geneva Mobile +41.76.413.=
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