India becomes first country to ratify Marrakesh Treaty for visually impaired

July 1, 2014

As India ratified the Marrakesh Treaty, it became the first country in the world to have done so. The treaty seeks to facilitate access to published works for persons who are visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled. The Treaty was adopted by 79 member nations of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). India submitted the Instrument of Ratification to WIPO at the 28^th session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights in Geneva.
For the Marrakesh Treaty to come into force, ratification by at least 20 nations is necessary. The treaty requires signatories to introduce national law provisions that facilitates the availability of published works in formats like Braille that are accessible to the blind and allow their exchange across borders by organizations working for the visually impaired.
The pact will help import of accessible format copies from the member countries by the Indian authorized entities such as educational institutions, libraries and other institutions working for the welfare of the visually impaired. The treaty will also ease translation of imported accessible format copies and export of accessible format copies in Indian languages.

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