Facilitating Access to Copyright Works for Visually Impaired Persons

An objective of the intellectual property (IP) system is to promote creativity and culture, while returning value to creators and providing widespread, affordable access to content for the public. The proliferation of digital technologies has added a new dimension to the question of how to maintain a balance between the protection available to right owners and the needs of specific user groups. Those seeking to benefit from reasonable exceptions to and limitations on copyright protection include the more than 314 million who are visually impaired or print disabled.

The WIPO-developed Visually Impaired Person (VIP) initiative provides a platform for initiatives in the IP fields with the vision to facilitate access to information and cultural content by VIPs. The VIP initiative supports the UN interagency effort to “deliver as one” in promoting and providing equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

This site provides information of the WIPO VIP initiative and is the anchor site of its two main components - the Enabling Technologies Framework (ETF) project and the Trusted Intermediary Global Accessible Resources (TIGAR) project. The two projects were launched in 2010 with participation from international partners involved in the publishing industry, standardization work and serving the VIP community.

Comments, suggestions and input are welcome.