This inclusive approach highlights once more that human rights, balance, care for equality, access and creativity resides not in one, but all WIPO treaties and instruments.
Closing Statement by the International Publishers Association 27 June 2013
The International Publishers Association (IPA) would firstly like to thank our Moroccan hosts. Their warm hospitality, generosity and impressive organisational skills have created the setting in which this outcome could be achieved.
IPA would next like to congratulate WIPO and its Member States to the successful conclusion of the Diplomatic Conference in Marrakech. We would like to thank the delegates, Director General Francis Gurry, the committee chairs and facilitators and all other stakeholders who have contributed to the negotiation process. IPA would particularly like to thank the authors’ and publishers’ representatives who have contributed to the process by providing factual information on accessibility developments and tirelessly demonstrating their willingness to reach out to the VIP community to achieve a simple, practical and clear treaty text.
As a result of all these efforts, we have arrived at the treaty text that is before us.
This treaty is certainly unique in the way it addresses a very specific humanitarian need. It stands out, and therefore should stand alone. It shows the extent and the limits that we reach in the effort to homogenise copyright exceptions internationally.
At the same time, the WIPO Marrakech Treaty references many other WIPO treaties and principles that have long been established and are hereby strengthened. This inclusive approach highlights once more that human rights, balance, care for equality, access and creativity resides not in one, but all WIPO treaties and instruments.
IPA therefore calls for all Member States to sign this treaty and all WIPO treaties concluded over the past two decades. Together they provide a coherent enabling legal framework that allows the balancing of the human rights of freedom of expression, human creativity and equal access. They all merit careful consideration for accession. A broader commitment to the full body of international copyright law would have made negotiations far easier.
In the meantime, IPA looks forward as the world is changing around us for authors, publishers and persons with print disabilities.
The world’s publishers will continue to work with all stakeholders to improve access for persons with print disability and to achieve our common goal and the objective of this treaty: Equal access for all.
Thank you
Delivered in
Marrakech, on 27 June 2013
By Jens Bammel, Secretary General