Book famine
Book famine: European Parliament votes its support for a binding “books without borders” treaty
Millions of blind EU citizens face a “book famine” in which only a few per cent of books are converted to “accessible formats” they can read such as braille, large print or audio. The European Blind Union (EBU) has campaigned for some years for an international treaty to help us get better access to books. However, the EU Council and Commission have consistently opposed this.
On May 12th, the European Parliament adopted a report called “Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries”, making clear its support for our treaty. Article 70 of the report “Calls on the Commission to work actively and positively within the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to agree on a binding legal norm based on the treaty proposal drafted by the World Blind Union and tabled at WIPO in 2009”.
Discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a UN body based in Geneva, on such a treaty, have seen most WIPO Member States support the proposal. However, the EU Council and Commission have steadfastly maintained that soft law “recommendations” and voluntary licenses are a “better” alternative.
Not only does the EBU not agree, but now, formally, the European Parliament has challenged EU negotiators to support a treaty. Lord Low of Dalston, President of the European Blind Union, told NCBI News: “Just a month ago the European Blind Union co-hosted an event in the European Parliament to highlight the EU Council and Commission’s opposition to our treaty. I am delighted that the Parliament has so clearly demonstrated its support for a binding law at WIPO. I urge the Council and Commission, which negotiate on this matter, to listen to the Parliament, which speaks for the EU’s citizens, and support a binding treaty when they go to Geneva this June.”
NCBI continues to work with the EBU and the Department of Enterprise on the WIPO Treaty.