HOMEPress Release: Visually Impaired Persons and Publishers Join IPA
Geneva, 2 July 2007 - For Immediate Release
Visually Impaired Persons and Publishers Join IPA in Geneva for Dialogue on International Access
The International Publishers Association invited VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) experts and publishing industry stakeholders to discuss the issues of access of visually impaired persons across borders to works in accessible formats.
IPA invited experts to informal talks in Geneva. The invitees came from the World Blind Union, the DAISY Consortium, and IFLA/Libraries for the Blind Section to join publishing industry specialists from the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), the Publishers Licensing Society (PLS) and the Dorina Nowill Foundation (Brazil). All were invited in their personal capacity, not as spokespersons of their respective organisations.
IPA took the initiative to discuss the recommendations of a recent study by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) which highlighted the issue of cross border access to works formatted to suit the needs of visually impaired persons as particularly pressing. Participants at this meeting agreed on a shared work programme to identify and analyse different options for the solution of this issue.
Says IPA President Ana Maria Cabanellas, who participated in the meeting: "Publishers and Visually Impaired Persons share the same aspirations and goals with regard to access of works by visually impaired persons. Together we must find solutions at international level that can replicate the trust and the spirit of cooperation that publishers and VIP charities have built in so many countries around the world."
Notes for Editors:
See the WIPO study prepared by Judith Sullivan
Links to the projects and organisations that were presented at the event:
International Publishers Association:
http://www.internationalpublishers.org
World Blind Union:
http://www.worldblindunion.org
Dorina Nowill Foundation:
http://www.fundacaodorina.org.br
DAISY Consortium:
http://www.daisy.org
FEP:
http://www.fep-fee.be
PLS:
http://www.pls.org.uk
IFRRO:
http://www.ifrro.org
IFLA:
http://www.ifla.org
More about IPA:
The International Publishers Association (IPA) is the global non-governmental organisation representing all aspects of book and journal publishing worldwide. Established in 1896, IPA's mission is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness for publishing as a force for cultural and political advancement worldwide. IPA is an industry association with a human rights mandate. IPA currently has 65 member associations in 53 countries.
For further information, please contact:
Jens Bammel
Secretary General
International Publishers Association
3, avenue de Miremont
CH - 1206 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 346 3018
Fax: +41 22 347 5717
mailto: bammel@internationalpublishers.org
http://www.internationalpublishers.org/
