On 27 June 2013, delegates of the Diplomatic Conference of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) adopted the Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled in Marrakesh, Morocco. Russia’s accession to the Marrakesh Treaty aims to broaden these individuals’ opportunities to access books, magazines, teaching aids and textbooks that have been created under special formats and to facilitate international exchanges of these publications.

Reference

The draft federal law on Russia’s accession to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled, hereinafter referred to as the draft law and the Marrakesh Treaty, has been submitted by the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture.

On 27 June 2013, delegates of the Diplomatic Conference of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) adopted the Marrakesh Treaty in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The Marrakesh Treaty stipulates the following measures:

–         establishing copyright restrictions and exceptions in the interests of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled that make it possible to introduce the required amendments to publish works in an accessible format, and to reproduce, distribute and bring to everyone’s notice various works in formats that can be accessed by these individuals;

–         international exchanges of works in these formats via specially authorised agencies.

The Marrakesh Treaty’s provisions apply to publications in the form of texts, sheet music and/or related illustrations that have been published or otherwise brought to public notice using any media outlets, including audiobooks.

Russia’s accession to the Marrakesh Treaty aims to broaden these individuals’ opportunities to access books, magazines, teaching aids and textbooks that have been created under special formats and to facilitate international exchanges of these publications.

On 27 July 2017, Government meeting participants reviewed and approved the draft law.