The Marrakesh Treaty, which was adopted on June 27, 2013, is part of the set of international treaties on copyright, the administrative functions of which are performed by the World Intellectual Property Organization , which is designed to facilitate the access of people with visual impairments and limited perception of printed information to objects protected by copyright.
Ukraine joined the treaty by adopting the law " On Ukraine's Accession to the Marrakesh Treaty on Facilitating the Access of the Blind, Visually Impaired or Other Disabled Persons to Perceiving Printed Information to Published Works ." The provisions of the contract entered into force on September 8, 2023.
The terms of the agreement regulate the use of copies of works in formats accessible to people with visual impairments (literature published in Braille, voiced literature, etc.). Distribution of copies in this format among the relevant categories of people should be carried out without payment of royalties. Therefore, it is important that these works, in particular in audio format, have protection and can reach only the appropriate beneficiaries.
Key provisions of the Marrakesh Treaty:
- Facilitating access to copyrighted works. Authorized bodies may create and distribute copies of works in appropriate formats for a specified category of visually impaired persons.
- Cross-border exchange. Authorized persons may exchange copies of works among themselves, as well as with authorized bodies of other countries that have joined the Marrakesh Treaty.
- Enhanced control. Control by authorized bodies over the use and distribution of copies of works, in particular in audio format, exclusively among a clearly defined category of persons in order to strengthen the protection of the rights of authors of works.
The provisions of the Marrakesh Treaty are implemented in Art. 23 of the Law of Ukraine " On Copyright and Related Rights ", which establishes the methods and conditions of free use of works in the interests of persons with limited possibilities of perceiving printed information due to disability.
Source: https://entc.com.ua/uk/2007-yuryst-konsultuye-ukraina-ratyfikuvala-marrakeskyi-dohovir