U.S. signs treaty to create copyright exceptions for the blind

By Min Wu

The United States signed the World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty) on October 2nd. However, Senate Republicans might create obstacles for ratifying the treaty, according to Intellectual Property Watch.

American Libraries explains that the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty was created for the purpose of making exceptions in copyright laws for the creation and distribution of accessible-format copies both domestically and across borders. The treaty was adopted this summer by a diplomatic conference of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which was held in Marrakesh, Morocco.