Copyright Exemptions For Visually Challenged

India

Copyright exemption will allow disabled more access to reading material. The visually challenged can now hope for a far better deal under the Copyright Amendment Bill, 2010. It is learnt that the Human Resource and Development ministry will give many more copyright exemptions and concessions to the visually challenged and those facing other disabilities will also be factored in.

The ministry is likely to allow greater access of reading material to the disabled by allowing them to convert it to any format instead of only special formats like Braille.

The Indian copyright rules would be brought in line with international norms. But this has ignited debates with creative artistes and film producers sparring over royalty sharing while disability activists are alleging the Bill is discriminatory and restrictive.

While the current Copyright Act 1957 does not have any provisions to address the needs of the disabled, including the visually impaired, and permission has to be sought from copyright holders every time a visually challenged person requires access, the amendments proposed by the ministry are to allow automatic conversion of reading material into "specially designed" formats for the disabled like Braille and sign language. Disability activists, however, argue that to truly allow the visually impaired unfettered access to reading material, it should be made available in mainstream formats like audio formats, e-texts with screen reading software, reading material with large fonts rather than the limiting 'special formats'. The fact that miniscule reading material in India in available in electronic formats further underscores this point. Many visually disabled persons prefer to convert reading material into electronic formats that can be listened to.

The disability activists allege that the Bill leaves out large sections of disabled people affected by dyslexia, cerebral palsy and those suffering from partial impairments.