The Marrakesh Treaty in Action
2017/02/12
The Marrakesh Treaty eases the production and transfer across national boundaries of books that are specially adapted for use by people with visual impairments, most of whom live in lower-income countries.
WIPO member states agreed the text of the “books for the blind” treaty in 2013 in the Kingdom of Morocco and the agreement came into effect on September 30, 2016. As a result the Treaty’s benefits can now flow to beneficiaries in contracting countries. Iran is a member of this treaty.
The Treaty means cost savings, economies of scale and, principally, more books for more people.
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013 in Marrakesh and it forms part of the body of international copyright treaties administered by WIPO. It has a clear humanitarian and social development dimension and its main goal is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).
