The Potential Significance for Print Impaired New Zealanders of Accession to the Marrakesh Treaty

Abstract

This project investigates the potential significance of NZ's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled for our print disabled community and their information providers.

The project uses a qualitative approach to analyze submissions made to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment in response to their discussion document on the Marrakesh Treaty using the research question: “How are New Zealanders responding to the consultation process on whether New Zealand should accede to the Marrakesh Treaty? What new local issues are raised?” Three background questions were also explored to establish what information access barriers currently exist for print impaired communities.

It transpired that print impaired communities are very diverse with a range of needs that may be met by the Marrakesh Treaty. It is anticipated that the treaty will speed up and free the flow of information internationally which will assist both individuals and the organisations that serve them. However, potential security issues were raised by copyright holders which would be an excellent subject for future research once the treaty had been in effect for some time. Future researchers may also investigate the interaction between the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the Marrakesh Treaty especially in relation to technological protection measures (TPMs).