Blind Law School Dean Explains Why We Need The WIPO Copyright Treaty For The Blind

from the must-watch dept

As the MPAA and other copyright maximalist organizations continue to try to block the WIPO copyright treaty for the blind, which will make it easier for blind people around the globe to be able to access creative works, I was touched by this incredible video from Ron McCallum, the former dean at the University of Sydney Law School, where he is now an Emeritus Professor. McCallum has been blind since birth, and in the video he talks about how technology changed his life and allowed him to do so much -- and how important the treaty in question is, to allow that same revolution to help others, especially in less developed countries.
It's touching and entertaining at the same time, and should make you wonder why the MPAA wants so badly to reject this treaty. Obviously, the MPAA doesn't hate blind people, but they're so ridiculously scared of any expansion of the rights of the public (things like fair use) that they'll block any and all moves in that direction, even if the collateral damage means that other Ron McCallums around the globe won't be able to have the wonderful experiences that he did.
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Filed Under: blind, books, copyright, reading, ron mccallum, treaty, wipo
Companies: mpaa


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 3:12pm

    What's with all the false claims that a treaty is being blocked by your favorite anti-innovators/culture-haters?

    See: https://nfb.org/joint-statement-national-federation-blind-president-marc-maurer-and-mpaa-chairman-se nator-chris-dodd

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 3:46pm

    Now I understand...promote terms for a treaty that are not as broad as others might advocate and you are a "blocker". Appears as if negotiation is becoming a lost art.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      JCHP (profile), 3 Jun 2013 @ 4:17pm

      Re:

      They negotiate? Could have fooled me there, the way they've acted for years is "My way or the highway".

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 10:09pm

        Re: Re:

        95+ year copy protection lengths with retroactive extensions each time something is about to enter the public domain. Yep, my way or the highway.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Beech, 3 Jun 2013 @ 4:18pm

      Re:

      Baloney. They have been flat out rejecting the treaty for ages because any change to copyright that isn't making it longer/stronger/tougher and generally making it harder to get your hands on a copyrighted work, then it is a clear attack on copyright and must be stopped. If you actually have some kind of a link that shows the MPAA saying something like "Letting the blind get easier access to material is a bit too much, can we make sure to add some language to make sure it isnt abused?" I would like to see it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 4:30pm

      Re:

      You are literally complaining that laws might be too accommodating for blind people.

      Do yourself a favor. Put on a blindfold, and don't take it off for 24 hours. Get a blind person's perspective on the world. Maybe you'll develop some sympathy for them.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 8:58pm

      Re:

      "Appears as if negotiation is becoming a lost art."

      This from a Republican whose motto is "Let's compromise. Do it my way".

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 10:12pm

      Re:

      I don't want the government to 'negotiate' the public interest. I want them to serve the public interest entirely.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Internet Zen Master (profile), 3 Jun 2013 @ 4:10pm

    No, I'm pretty sure they do hate blind people

    I mean, the MPAA stands for Motion Pictures Association (of) America.

    Blind people aren't exactly part of their target demographic...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 6:20pm

    So there's a whole school of filthy sight pirates? No wonder our economy is fucked when you keep trampling copyrights.

    [/sarc]

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    out_of_the_blue, 3 Jun 2013 @ 6:35pm

    But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

    For at least third time cynically using this same emotional appeal "for the blind".

    "expansion of the rights of the public (things like fair use)" -- Right there Mike tacitly admits that he wants to change the deal, and in what direction. It's a rare revelation, usually he pretends to not have an opinion. But "fair use" is right now pretty well nailed down -- Mike has no problem stating when it applies to this case or that. And of course the wedging action is helpful to the type of grifters whom Mike favors -- file hosts like Mega(upload) -- which corporate entities would use any weakening of well established law to go yet further in monetizing someone else's work.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 8:28pm

      Re: But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

      "But "fair use" is right now pretty well nailed down."

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

      Ha.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 8:38pm

      Re: But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

      Butthurt are we pmsl.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 8:59pm

      Re: But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

      "For at least third time cynically using this same emotional appeal "for the blind"."

      If he used "for the brainless", you'd be far more sympathetic, because then you'd be included.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Rikuo (profile), 3 Jun 2013 @ 11:21pm

      Re: But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

      Strange how in your constant berating of corporations grifting off of other people's work and not paying them (cyberlockers) you completely ignore the many times movie studios and music labels have done just that, having abused copyright law to do so.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Pragmatic, 4 Jun 2013 @ 4:00am

      Re: But Manipulator Mike's only interest is to weaken copyright.

      But "fair use" is right now pretty well nailed down -- Mike has no problem stating when it applies to this case or that.


      Fair use is nailed down because Mike talks about it? LOL!

      And "Screw the blind in case grifters benefit" is the worst reason for supporting the MPAA's position. Wow, you really have surpassed yourself, Blue. 'Scuse me while I barf.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 9:09pm

    To be clear, what is involved here is an attempt by some to restructure basic facets of copyright law by disingenuously saying "But...it's for the blind". This is no different from promoting legislation by disingenuously saying "But...it's for the children".

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Julian Perez, 3 Jun 2013 @ 9:51pm

      Re:

      Your position is absolutely absurd.

      The right to shift and alter works already owned is a part of the First Sale doctrine.

      Second, this is about providing an exception to existing copyright law so that works can be modified to be enjoyed by people with disabilities. The real injustice is this isn't legal to begin with.

      You are literally advocating that laws to accomodate blind people are far too much of an overreach, trampling on copyright, and that anyone assuming this position isn't doing it because they care about the blind.

      This is why you maximalists are viewed as extremists who do not have the public good in mind.

      If you believe being against the rights of the blind gets you unfairly labeled, here's a strategy: don't be against the rights of the blind!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 4 Jun 2013 @ 6:48am

        Re: Re:

        Prior to launching into a diatribe it would prove useful to first become acquainted with this issue from independent sources. For example, one starting point might be 17 USC 121, the provision within federal copyright law entitled:

        "Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities"

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2013 @ 11:08pm

      Re:

      So, what you're saying is that blind people shouldn't be able to read.

      Gotcha.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    techflaws (profile), 4 Jun 2013 @ 1:52am

    Obviously, the MPAA doesn't hate blind people

    How is that obvious?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Jun 2013 @ 4:29am

    i think it's a combination of things for the entertainment industries. apart from the things mentioned, i think one other thing is they cant bear the thought of something that they look on as being theirs being someone else's as well. they dont know how to do anything to help people who, having spent their lives helping anyone and everyone, need some help in return. i am sure that the answer from these industries will be 'hire more people to punch the dots!'

    oh, to be able to put those fuckers into the same positions as they have put others! what a wonderful feeling it would be to be able to say 'now, how do you like it?'

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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