India signs treaty on published works for visually impaired

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) India has signed an international treaty which will facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled, an official release said Thursday.

The release said the 'Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled' was signed at a ceremony organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) at Geneva.

The treaty was signed by Veena Ish, joint secretary in the ministry of human resource development, April 30.

The treaty aims at creating a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).

The release said that once India ratifies it, the treaty will facilitate importation of accessible format copies from the member states by the authorised entities in the country, such as educational institutions, libraries and institutions working for the benefit of visually impaired persons.

"India would soon be ratifying the treaty, which will enter into force after the deposit of 20 instruments of ratification or accession by eligible parties," it said.

Besides India, the European Union, Greece and France also signed the treaty Thursday.

With this, a total of 64 of the WIPO's 187 members have signed the treaty.