Professor Brook Baker has written a 5800 word commentary on the negotiations for a treaty on copyright exceptions for persons who blind or have other disabilities. A copy of the paper is available here. The title of the paper is:… Continue Reading
May 18, 2013 About the list. This is a work in progress. KEI has been engaged in the negotiations for a WIPO treaty on copyright exceptions for persons with disabilities since 2008. We have attended each negotiation that has been… Continue Reading
On Thursday May 30, 2013, the leaders of the MPAA and the NFB issued a joint statement, followed by a joint press call involving Chris Dodd, the CEO of the MPAA, and Rick Maurer, the President of the NFB. The… Continue Reading
For the past year, a treaty on copyright exceptions for persons who are blind or have other disabilities has been hung up on demands by the European Union to insert provocative language on the so called “three step test” in… Continue Reading
Notes on the Blur Banff proposal* KEI Research Note 2013:1 February 1, 2013 This is a brief note on the Blur/Banff proposal for a system of decentralized decision making and competitive intermediaries to provide money to support recorded music that… Continue Reading
Just before 8 p.m. on Friday evening, the 25th session of the WIPO’s main committee for copyright policy, the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), completed its work and adjourned. Continue Reading
Some have written to ask what the Canada position is on the proposed WIPO treaty on copyright exceptions for persons who are blind or have other disabilities. For the first 3.5 days of the meeting, Canada did not say anything. Continue Reading
During the WIPO negotiations on disabilities, the White House has told U.S. Blind groups it will kill a WIPO treaty on copyright exceptions for persons who are blind or have other disabilities if the treaty covers audiovisual works, including those used in education, including distance teaching programs.
I just read from these talking points at WIPO SCCR 25, where the topic under discuss is a proposed treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities. (See /r2r).
1. KEI is disappointed that deaf people are left out.
2. KEI is disappointed that there is a proposal to eliminate the article on contracts. We agree with the Library Copyright Alliance that contracts are now being used to undermine exceptions. The treaty should have provisions to make it clear that governments may override exception killing contracts.
Copyright limitations and exceptions are important limits to the exclusive rights of the copyright holder, permitting use of copyrighted works without the right holder’s permission in certain cases. Under international law, some specific limitations and exceptions exist, such as those enumerated by the Berne Convention. Continue Reading