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Statement on Adoption of Historic Treaty Improving Access to Published Works for the Blind and Other Print Disabled Persons USPTO

07-Jul-2013 | Source : | Visits : 6786
WASHINGTON - Acting Under-Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Teresa Stanek Rea applauded the adoption by more than 150 countries of a landmark international treaty to facilitate access to published works by visually impaired persons and persons with print disabilities. The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled was adopted yesterday at a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco where the US Government delegation was led by USPTO officials.

“Improving access to copyrighted works for the benefit of the blind and other people with print disabilities has been an issue of the highest priority for the United States and we applaud the collaborative efforts of WIPO and our international colleagues in achieving this historic agreement,” said Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO Teresa Stanek Rea. “US law already contains a balanced provision enabling such access and we look forward to collaborating with other countries to promote a similarly effective international system.”

The USPTO team was led by Acting Director Rea, along with lead negotiators Shira Perlmutter, USPTO Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, and Justin Hughes, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Intellectual Property. Other members of the US delegation include representatives from the US State Department, the US Department of Justice, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US Copyright Office, the US Department of Education, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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