In response to the World Blind Union announcement that it has suspended its participation in the WIPO Stakeholders' Platform and the TIGAR Project, the DAISY Consortium Board of Directors wishes to make it clear that it fully supports a binding legal framework to address the issue of cross border exchange of accessible versions of copyrighted materials. Only through a binding legal framework can the book famine which affects people with print disabilities worldwide be resolved in a sustainable and cost effective way.
We urge governments to instruct their delegations at WIPO to reach rapid agreement on the binding legal framework needed to meet their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Some governments are of the belief that licensing or advisory frameworks will adequately address the issue. However, licensing arrangements do not cover many vital publications, and may also result in unacceptable delivery delays and additional costs. "Equal access" means access to published works at the same time and at no additional cost. After two years of negotiations we are no closer to a binding legal framework.
The DAISY Consortium is fully committed to supporting the legitimate rights of copyright holders. At the same time we support governments in their efforts to deliver their equality of access obligations under the UN Convention and under their national equality laws. The Consortium has participated in the Stakeholders' Platform and the TIGAR Project in good faith with the understanding that these activities were not an attempt to undermine efforts to establish an international copyright exception.
The DAISY Consortium will continue to participate in the Stakeholders' Platform and the TIGAR Project if and when it continues. Our efforts will be focused on the practical infrastructure needed to support a treaty and improve safe and efficient cross border sharing of accessible publications.
The DAISY Consortium will continue to advocate for WIPO member governments to swiftly come to consensus on an international exception instrument. We respectfully recommend that the Stakeholders' Platform and the TIGAR Project reserve the seat left vacant by the WBU until the resolution of the international copyright exception has been completed. We further recommend that the licensing agreements brought forward within the TIGAR Project be renegotiated so that they are acceptable to both rights' holders and organizations serving people with print disabilities.
The book famine must be brought to an end. The DAISY Consortium will continue to partner with the publishing industry, governments and organizations of and/or for people with print disabilities. We have helped lead the development of international standards, such as the EPUB standard used in the commercial digital publishing industry. We fully expect that accessible publishing standards, like EPUB, will meet the needs of many persons with disabilities. However, an exception that supports the cross border exchange of accessible publications is needed to address the very special needs of those not served by that market.
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