The 2013 Marrakesh Treaty: Providing Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind and Print Disabled
September 12, 2013 | 3:00-6:00
Washington College of Law – Room 603
The Marrekesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled was adopted at a June 2013 Diplomatic Conference convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The treaty represents a significant step toward the goal of assuring equal opportunities to access text materials for all persons, without regard to disability. It is also a new departure in the history of international intellectual property law: the first international treaty with the main focus on defining minimum standards for copyright limitations and exceptions, rather than establishing conditions for enhanced proprietary rights.
On Thursday, September 12, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, the Program on Information Justice and the Public Interest at the American University Law School will host the first public forum on the new treaty. Panels will address “The Road to Marrakesh” and “Next Steps.” The distinguished array of panelists includes: Prof. Justin Hughes, who led the U.S. delegation at the Diplomatic Conference; Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation, along with NFB’s treaty negotiator, Scott LaBarre; U.S. delegation member Nancy Weiss. General Counsel of IMLS; Prof. Ruth Okediji, University of Minnesota, William S. Prosser Professor of Law; Luis Villaroel Researcher of Universidad Mayor, who advised Ecuador; consumer advocate James Love of KEI; General Counsel Allan R. Adler of the AAP; Chris Marcich of EMEA (the MPAA’s European arm); Library Copyright Alliance counsel Jonathan Band; Teresa Hackett of Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL); Shira Perlmutter, Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs at the USPTO; Prof. Lateef Mtima of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice at Howard Law School; and Prof. Danielle Conway from the University of Hawaii. Prof. Peter Jaszi of PIJIP will moderate.
Sign Interpretation will be provided. Other accommodations are available upon request to pijip@wcl.american.edu
The archived webcast will be captioned and available on the website one week after the event.
A reception will follow the event at 6:00 PM.
