[A2k] Public Knowledge statement on limitations and exceptions

[Rashmi Rangnath]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
The following is Public Knowledge's statement on limitations and exceptions=
:

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I would like to congratulate ambassador Clark on hi=
s
new post as ADG.



Public Knowledge commends member states for their continuing work on the
treaty for Improved Access for Blind, Visually Impaired, and other Reading
Disabled Persons. The proposed treaty represents a positive step towards
ensuring greater access to knowledge and information for the visually
impaired, too many of whom are deprived of this basic right. Ensuring such
access would be in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Right=
s
and the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities.



We urge member states to view the treaty as a first step towards a binding
international instrument and work through their objections to specific
provisions to achieve a consensus based treaty. A treaty is the most
effective means to increase access for the blind and the visually impaired.
Efforts to solve the problem of access have been underway since 1983 when
the WIPO and UNESCO working group drafted model provisions. During this
period, neither model laws nor market-based solutions have been successful
in solving these problems.



Public Knowledge also thanks member states for initiating discussion on the
issue of copyright limitations and exceptions for the benefit of libraries
and archives, for education of the world=92s citizens, and for limitations =
and
exceptions in the digital environment. While current international treaties
including the Berne Convention, the TRIPS agreement and the WIPO Copyright
treaties require states to grant extensive protections to copyright owners,
they provide little guidance on the structure of limitations and exceptions=
.
We hope that yesterday=92s informational sessions and the various studies
commissioned by WIPO and also conducted independently by others on the issu=
e
of limitations and exceptions will lead to a greater understanding of the
barriers posed by copyright law to access to knowledge and lead to more
balance in the international copyright regime. We urge the committee to
continue work on this important issue.


Rashmi Rangnath
Please note our new address

Public Knowledge
1818 N Street NW
Suite 410
Washington, D.C. 20036
202 861 0020
rrangnath@publicknowledge.org
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