Press Releases
Accession by Japan to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons
Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled
Mr. Junichi Ihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan in Geneva, handed to
Mr. Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General, the instrument of accession
1. On October 1, 2018, the Government of Japan deposited its instrument of accession to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (PDF)
, adopted on June 27, 2013 in Marrakesh. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty, for Japan, the Treaty will enter into force on January 1, 2019.
2. The Treaty requires Contracting Parties to provide for a limitation or exception to copyrights with regard to the accessible format copies of works such as Braille books or audio books, and stipulate cross-border exchange of those copies with a view to facilitating access to works by persons with visual impairments or with other print disabilities.
3. Accession by Japan to the Treaty would further facilitate access to works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled, including those in Japan, and contribute to the international efforts to promote facilitation of such access.
