Slowgoing Progress

摘要

More than a year after the Marrakesh Treaty was signed by more than 50 countries, it is stuck in the slow lane as just one has ratified it. The treaty, formulated by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), is meant to spur signatory countries to make printed works accessible for blind people. The World Blind Union (WBU), a major supporter of the treaty's aims, claims that more than 90% of published materials cannot be read by blind or print-disabled people. In brief, signatories to the treaty pledge to make it easier for print works to be reproduced into accessible formats for blind and low-vision readers by easing copyright restrictions. They also pledge to allow cross-border sharing of these works. However, unless the treaty is ratified by at least 20 signatories, it cannot come into effect.