Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, took effect in China on May 5.

It is a copyright law adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco on June 27, 2013. The treaty achieved the deposit of 20 instruments for ratification or accession by eligible parties that needed to be passed into law on June 30, 2016, before its enforcement three months later, on Sept 30, 2016. As of October 2021, the treaty has 88 contracting parties covering 114 World Intellectual Property Organization Member States after the European Union joined as a block.

On Feb 5, 2022, China deposited its instrument for ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty with the WIPO. According to the rules, the treaty enters into force in China on May 5, 2022, three months after the submission of the instrument for ratification.

According to statistics, there are 17.32 million visually challenged people in China. The Beneficiaries of the Marrakesh Treaty include not only these individuals but also those who are unable to read due to visual defects, perceptual impairments, physical disabilities, and other related reasons. The Marrakesh Treaty coming into force in China will greatly enrich the spiritual and cultural life of people with dyslexia.

China has always attached great importance to ensuring that people with reading disabilities, including those with visual impairment, enjoy work opportunities and receive education on an equal basis.

The Copyright Law, which came into effect on June 1, 1991, stipulates that a published work may be changed into Braille for publication without permission or payment of remuneration to copyright owners.

On Nov 11, 2020, the Copyright Law completed its third amendment, which took effect on June 1, 2021, extending the published works’ availability to all persons with dyslexia.

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