KEI Statement at SCCR 18, May 27, 2009

Congratulations on your record setting re-election as chairman of the SCCR, and for your excellent guidance this week.

With regard to the draft questionnaire, KEI suggests it be expanded to address exceptions found in Article 44 of the TRIPS, regarding alternatives to injunctions.

KEI supports the proposal by Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay for a treaty for reading disabled persons, which is correctly inclusive in terms of disabilities covered.

With the treaty there will be cross-border sharing of accessible works created under limitations and exceptions. Without the treaty, this will be quite limited.

All blind and disabled persons will benefit from the treaty. It will not harm any publishers.

This is a step to address human rights and development.

Two weeks ago, Random House announced it would disable text to speech in all of its ebooks, including books by Mother Teresa, the Pope, President Obama, Toni Morrison and Stephen King. Society cannot rely upon publishers to guarantee human rights.

KEI supports efforts by the Africa group and others to promote a treaty on access to knowledge, or several initiatives in special areas, such as education, which promote development and protect human rights.

KEI suggests the SCCR establish space in the agenda of the next meeting a discussion of the modalities of moving forward earlier deliverables on the L&E agenda, with a recognition that some issues will be more mature than others for norm setting, but all issues are important.Congratulations on your record setting re-election as chairman of the SCCR, and for your excellent guidance this week.

With regard to the draft questionnaire, KEI suggests it be expanded to address exceptions found in Article 44 of the TRIPS, regarding alternatives to injunctions.

KEI supports the proposal by Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay for a treaty for reading disabled persons, which is correctly inclusive in terms of disabilities covered.

With the treaty there will be cross-border sharing of accessible works created under limitations and exceptions. Without the treaty, this will be quite limited.

All blind and disabled persons will benefit from the treaty. It will not harm any publishers.

This is a step to address human rights and development.

Two weeks ago, Random House announced it would disable text to speech in all of its ebooks, including books by Mother Teresa, the Pope, President Obama, Toni Morrison and Stephen King. Society cannot rely upon publishers to guarantee human rights.

KEI supports efforts by the Africa group and others to promote a treaty on access to knowledge, or several initiatives in special areas, such as education, which promote development and protect human rights.

KEI suggests the SCCR establish space in the agenda of the next meeting a discussion of the modalities of moving forward earlier deliverables on the L&E agenda, with a recognition that some issues will be more mature than others for norm setting, but all issues are important.