Canada and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled

Reports are that the Canadian delegation, pictured below, played a positive role in the negotiation of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled.  (The video of Canada's opening statement is available here: click  English video for Wednesday June 19 at 3:30-3:45). However, Canada has not yet signed the treaty.

Whereas the UK, Switzerland, and Brazil, along with 48 other countries, all signed the treaty on the last day of the diplomatic conference, disappointingly, Canada has not yet signed.  The treaty remains open for signature for one year.  Even if Canada does not sign the treaty within that year, it may still ratify the treaty and implement it into law.  Signing the treaty would signify some level of support for and interest in it, and has been likened to the "dating" phase before formalizing the treaty into Canadian law by ratification.  While "dating" is not a necessary step prior to marriage, it is a good sign of interest.

Canada should sign the Marrakesh Treaty as soon as possible, to signify its support for what is being heralded in all corners as a great achievement.

New book: The Struggle for Canadian Copyright

My new book, The Struggle for Canadian Copyright: Imperialism to Internationalism, has just been published by UBC Press. It chronicles Canadian copyright history from 1842 to 1971 with a focus on Canada's international copyright relations, and in particular on Canada's relationship to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the foundation of international copyright.  Canada's history with copyright has long been tumultuous and conflicted, and this book examines Canada’s struggle for copyright sovereignty as one that continues to this day. 

The paperback edition is available for $34.95 at UBC Press.  Copies are also available at many university libraries.

A companion web site is available at http://www.thestruggleforcanadiancopyright.ca/.  The archival documents that are the foundation of the research for the book will soon be made available on the site.  I'll let you know here when they become available.