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Broad Spectrum of Stakeholder Organizations Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Implement the Marrakesh Treaty Urge Passage of Implementation Act & Ratification of Treaty Washington, DC (March 15, 2018): The American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, American Library Association, Association of American Publishers, Association of College and Research Libraries, Association of Research Libraries, Authors Guild, Benetech, National Federation of the Blind, National Music Publishers Association, and Perkins School for the Blind together applaud Chairmen Grassley and Corker, and Ranking Members Feinstein and Menendez, of the United States Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees, respectively, for today’s introduction of the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act.
We also appreciate the support of Senators Hatch, Harris, and Leahy. As U.S. stakeholder representatives, we strongly urge both houses of Congress to swiftly approve this legislation, and the Senate to quickly ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. Working tirelessly for many years with experts in the U.S. Government, we overcame our differences on the issues and processes that led to support for the global treaty; now, we again come together to support implementing legislation in the United States. The Treaty will greatly increase the availability of accessible books for people with print disabilities in the United States and in all countries that are parties to the Treaty.
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled was adopted by member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2013. The Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act amends the U.S. Copyright Act to comply with the Treaty.
For more information on current copyright news, please visit the Library Copyright Alliance website at http://www.librarycopyrightalliance.org/