Pakistan, on behalf of the Asian Group, gave unequivocal support for the World Blind Union proposal for a WIPO Treaty for Blind, Visually Impaired and other Reading Disabled Persons. The Asian Group does not include China and Japan but includes such countries as India, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and South Korea.
Here is the Asian Group’s specific intervention on the World Blind Union proposal.
Exceptions and Limitations
Regarding the Exceptions and Limitations issue, an with particular reference to improved access for blind, visually impaired and other reading disabilities, the Asian Group believes that the urgent need for concrete and immediate steps cannot be over emphasized. The Asian Group looks forward to formal initiation of discussions on the subject issue by this Committee. In this regard, we request the Secretariat to undertake an in depth analysis of the issues involved. We believe that such an analysis would help the Member States in effectively addressing the accessibility challenges for the visually impaired individuals.
The full text of the Asian Group statement which includes their views on broadcasting and audiovisual performances can be found after the jump.
Asian Group Statement at the Seventeenth Session of the Standing Committee on Copyrights and Related Rights
3-7 Nov 2008
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honor to make this statement on behalf of the Asian Group.
The Asian Group appreciates your dedication, patience and hard work during your long association with the SCCR. We also appreciate the hardworking done in preparing the studies requested by the Member States. We feel that the informative sessions on Exceptions and Limitations and on Audiovisual Performances were useful. They helped in promoting better understandings of some of the issues under discussion in this Committee.
The Asian Group believes that this Committee’s work should be based on the principles of transparency, clarity, inclusiveness, balance, flexibility and taking onboard the concerns of all the Member States.
On specific issues, the Asian Group’s position is as under:
Broadcasting Treaty
Regarding the future work on the Broadcasting Treaty, the Asian Group is of the view that:
1. Signal-based approach should be the basis for any future norm-setting initiatives regarding traditional broadcasting and cable casting organizations.
2.Instead of making choices between option 1, 2 or 3, as proposed in the Chair’s paper, the Group believes that there is a need for further studies on a number of issues at stake. We believe that further analysis of the issues would promote better understanding among the Member States.
3.The agenda item regarding the broadcasting organizations may be maintained on the agenda for future sessions of SCCR.
Exceptions and Limitations
Regarding the Exceptions and Limitations issue, an with particular reference to improved access for blind, visually impaired and other reading disabilities, the Asian Group believes that the urgent need for concrete and immediate steps cannot be over emphasized. The Asian Group looks forward to formal initiation of discussions on the subject issue by this Committee. In this regard, we request the Secretariat to undertake an in depth analysis of the issues involved. We believe that such an analysis would help the Member States in effectively addressing the accessibility challenges for the visually impaired individuals.
Audiovisual Performances
Regarding the national and regional seminars on protection of the audiovisual performances, the Asian Group appreciates this initiate and supports its continuation.
Finally, the Group believes that future SCCR sessions should give equal emphasis and adequate time to all the substantive issues on its agenda.
Thank you.