Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference on a Treaty for the Blind: Views of observers on hot button issues
Knowledge Ecology International is holding a side event in Marrakesh on 24 June 2013 at 2:00 PM in Karam 4 at the Palais des congrès entitled, “Views of observers on the hot button issues contained in the Marrakesh Treaty Text”.
Moderator:
Krista Cox (Staff attorney, KEI)Speakers:
Maryanne Diamond (President, World Blind Union)
Carlo Scollo Lavizzari (Attorney, International Association of Scientific Technical and Medical Publishers)
Pranesh Prakash (Policy Director, Center for Internet and Society)
US Department of State Demarche against fair use in WIPO treaty for blind
In February 2013, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reached a very difficult compromise of the broader copyright issues that were blocking progress on a treaty on copyright exceptions for blind persons. As part of that compromise, the negotiators agreed to this text:
USPTO releases 142 pages of emails sent by MPAA to USPTO over the treaty for the blind
Attached is an electronic copy of a FOIA received from USPTO, of email messages sent by MPAA lobbyists to the USPTO, about the WIPO negotiations on a treaty for copyright exceptions for persons with disabilities. (Copy here). (Now with OCR, courtesy of John Miller).
The FOIA request covered:
Berne Gap next, two proposals, African Group and USA
Attached below are the current proposals on the so called “Berne Gap.”
AF Group: Any Contracting Party which is not a member of the Berne Convention or other relevant international treaties shall ensure consistent with its own legal system and practices, that accessible format copies are not reproduced, distributed or made available to non-beneficiary persons.
170 Members of Congress Send Letter to Obama Criticizing India on Intellectual Property
On 18 June 2013, 170 Members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama criticizing India for its “intellectual property climate.” In particular, the letter criticizes recent decisions in the Indian courts, including a specific attack on India’s first compulsory license granted on Nexavar/sorafenib. Continue Reading
USA now isolated on TPMS in treaty for blind discussions
This was just passed out upstairs. There is now a proposal on TPMs by Australia, Switzerland, Argentina, Ecuador, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Holy See, Japan, India, African Group, Guatemala, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, to address TPMs with a single sentence, and it is quite good:
Proposal by Australia/Switzerland/Argentina/Ecuador/Canada/Chile/Brazil/Holy See/Japan/India/African Group/Guatemala/Bangladesh/China/Kenya/South Africa/Morocco
Marrakesh, delegates propose two pages of text on commercial availability
The “commercial availability” issue looked like a mess this evening, as delegates emerged from closed* negotiations to provide two pages of proposals for text for Article D(3), which was intended to be a single sentence. I am attaching the text here. Hard to say how this will end up. Now there is some bracketed text that “reasonable terms” will include “interoperability, time and other terms” which I assume also includes prices. Continue Reading
KEI opening statement at Marrakesh diplomatic conference
Today NGOs were given 3 minutes for an opening statement. This is the text I used. Jamie
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Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) is a non-profit organization concerned with human rights. KEI wishes the delegates luck on a successful outcome. We are grateful for the work by the Secretariat on this issue, from top to bottom.We will discuss our concerns about the negotiations.
There is a disparity between the lofty language in this hall, and the efforts to narrow user rights taking place downstairs, in the closed meeting.
Opening remarks of the World Blind Union at Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference on a WIPO Treaty for the Blind
Opening Remarks WIPO DIP Com 18 June 2013
By: Maryanne Diamond on behalf of the WBUThank you Mr Chairman for the opportunity to speak at this most important Diplomatic conference.
Intervention of the Holy See: WIPO Diplomatic Conference on a Treaty for the Blind
The Holy See delivered this statement on 18 June 2013 at the Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference on a WIPO Treaty for the Blind.
Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. TomasiPermanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva at World Intellectual Property Organization Diplomatic Conference to Conclude a Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities Marrakech (Morocco)
18 June 2013
Mr. President,
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