Features Archive
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Stakeholders' Platform Launches Project to Facilitate Access by VIPs to Published Works. An unprecedented initiative to facilitate access to published works by the visually impaired and the print disabled was announced on October 23, 2010, in New Delhi, India at the 5th meeting of WIPO’s Stakeholders’ Platform. The Platform approved the launch on November 1, 2010, of TIGAR – the trusted intermediary global accessible resources project – which will enable publishers to make their titles easily available to trusted intermediaries. These intermediaries will create accessible formats and share them amongst each other and with specialized libraries. (WIPO Press Release PR/2010/668)
- World-famous singer-songwriter and UN Messenger for Peace Stevie Wonder called on the international community to take action to enhance accessibility for all those with physical disabilities. Speaking at the opening of the annual meetings of WIPO Assemblies on September 20, 2010, he challenged delegates to conclude an agreement on improved accessibility to copyright protected works by visually impaired persons (VIPs) within a year. (WIPO Press Release PR/2010/661) Video | Transcript
- An on-line forum to promote an exchange of ideas and to build consensus on international measures to improve access to copyright-protected works in formats suitable for visually impaired persons and others with print disabilities (VIPs) was launched by WIPO. The Forum, was designed to stimulate debate, enhance understanding, and broaden awareness of the question. WIPO Press Release PR/2010/642 (May 21, 2010)
- WIPO Publication "Collective Management in Reprography" is now available as a Daisy Book (in English and Spanish): Full text audio version - English [ZIP] | Spanish [ZIP] (25Mb); Text only - English [ZIP] | Spanish [ZIP]
- WIPO & US Copyright Office Course Addresses Access to Copyright-protected works by VIPs. WIPO Press Update 2010/316 (March 16, 2010)
- SCCR Commits to Improving Access by VIPs to Copyright-Protected Works. WIPO Press Release 2009/628 (December 18, 2009)
- UN Agencies Agree on Need for Closer Collaboration in Favor of Visually Impaired. WIPO Press Release 2009/622 (December 8, 2009)
- WIPO DG Pledges Support for India’s Visually Impaired Community. WIPO Press Release PR/2009/615 (November 11, 2009)
Submission handed to the DG by the VIP community in India - Authors, Composers, Artists: Music "Inspired by Life" - WIPO had the pleasure of hosting on July 13 a performance by Nigerian musician, songwriter and producer Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo. Born blind in Lagos in 1981, Mr. Asuquo overcame both the challenges of being visually impaired and being from a developing country, to gain international recognition as a songwriter and music producer. WIPO Magazine 5/2009 (September 2009)
- IP Challenges in Meeting the Needs of VIPs - WIPO organized an event on "Meeting the Needs of Visually Impaired Persons: What Challenges for IP?" on July 13 to draw attention to the urgency of providing VIPs – including blind and reading impaired persons – with timely access to copyright-protected content. WIPO Magazine 5/2009 (September 2009)
- Louis Braille - 2009 marks the bicentenary of Louis Braille's birth - the man who changed the lives of millions of blind and visually-impaired people by creating a raised-dot system that allowed them to read and write, opening up the world for them to see. WIPO Magazine 4/2009 (June 2009)
- SCCR to Expedite Work in Favor of Reading Impaired. WIPO Press Update 2009/310 (June 2, 2009)
- Member States Review Key Copyright Issues. WIPO Press Release 2008/575 (November 10, 2008)
