Activites

• 2017/07/04 Vote in plenary scheduled
• 2017/07/03 Debate in plenary scheduled
• 2017/05/30 Approval in committee of the text agreed at 1st reading interinstitutional negotiations
  • PE604.882
• 2017/03/29 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • A8-0102/2017 summary

    The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Max ANDERSSON (Greens/EFA, SE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the cross-border exchange between the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position, adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure, should amend the Commission proposal as follows: Subject matter: Members stipulated that the Regulation should aim to effectively ensure the right of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled to participate in cultural, economic and social life on an equal basis with others. They introduced a reference to Article 26 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. E-books should be included in the definition of protected works. Definitions: Members proposed to harmonise the definition of ‘beneficiary person’ with the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. They also supplemented the definition of ‘authorised entity’ proposed by the Commission. It shall mean an organisation authorised or recognised by the Member States in which it is established. Complaints mechanism: an amendment called on Member States to put in place complaints or redress mechanisms in cases where beneficiaries are denied the permitted uses. Obligations of authorised entities: they shall: (i) respect the privacy of beneficiary persons; (ii) publish and update, on its website if appropriate, or through other online or offline channels, information on the manner in which it complies with the obligations laid down in this Regulation; (iii) provide information in an accessible way, on request, to any beneficiary person or right holder. Exchanges of information: Member States shall foster the exchange of information and best practices amongst authorised entities so as to effectively promote access to adapted works or subject-matter. They shall facilitate the agreement of best practice guidelines between representative groups of authorised entities that engage in the production, distribution or making available of accessible format copies, and users and right holders. Members suggested the creation of a single online database in the Union in order to foster the export of accessible format copies and born accessible publications. Strategic plan: lastly, the European Commission shall present, within one year, a strategic action plan to promote the objectives of the Marrakesh Treaty with special emphasis on ensuring widespread cross-border exchange with third countries, providing educational and cultural works for visually impaired persons.

  • CULT DZHAMBAZKI Angel ECR
  • EMPL STEVENS Helga ECR
  • INTA
  • JURI JURI/8/07957 ANDERSSON Max Verts/ALE
  • JURI GUTELAND Jytte S&D
  • PETI AUKEN Margrete Verts/ALE
• 2017/03/23 Committee decision to open interinstitutional negotiations with report adopted in committee
• 2017/03/23 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • CULT DZHAMBAZKI Angel ECR
  • EMPL STEVENS Helga ECR
  • INTA
  • JURI JURI/8/07957 ANDERSSON Max Verts/ALE
  • JURI GUTELAND Jytte S&D
  • PETI AUKEN Margrete Verts/ALE
• #3503
• 2016/11/28 Council Meeting
  • 3503
• 2016/10/06 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • CULT DZHAMBAZKI Angel ECR
  • EMPL STEVENS Helga ECR
  • INTA
  • JURI JURI/8/07957 ANDERSSON Max Verts/ALE
  • JURI GUTELAND Jytte S&D
  • PETI AUKEN Margrete Verts/ALE
• 2016/09/14 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2016)0595 summary

    PURPOSE: to implement the Union’s obligations under the Marrakesh Treaty in respect of the exchange of accessible format copies between the Union and third countries that are parties to the Marrakesh Treaty, for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with Council. BACKGROUND: persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled face many barriers to accessing books and other print material protected by copyright and related rights. The availability of books in formats that are accessible to print-disabled persons is estimated to be between 7 % and 20% despite the fact that digital technology greatly facilitates accessible publishing. Accessible formats include e.g. Braille, large print, e-books and audiobooks with special navigation, audio description and radio broadcasts. The need to increase the number of works and other protected subject-matter in accessible formats available to those persons and improve their circulation and dissemination has been recognised at an international level. The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted in 2013 at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) with the aim of facilitating the availability and cross-border exchange of books and other print material in accessible formats around the world. It was signed by the Union in April 2014. The Treaty requires the parties to provide exceptions or limitations to copyright and related rights and allows for the cross-border exchange of special format copies of books, including audio books, and other print material between countries that are parties to the Treaty. In order to implement the Marrakesh Treaty within the Union, a parallel proposal requires Member States to introduce a mandatory exception to certain rights of right holders harmonised by Union law for the benefit of beneficiary persons and to ensure cross-border access to special format copies within the internal market. Together with the draft directive mentioned above, the proposed regulation will allow the Union to fulfil an international obligation under the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for Persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled. CONTENT: the proposed regulation aims to implement the obligations in the Marrakesh Treaty with respect to the export and import of accessible format copies for the benefit of beneficiary persons between the Union and third countries that are parties to the Marrakesh Treaty, and to lay down the conditions for such export and import. The proposed regulation: contains provisions on the export of accessible format copies from the Union to third countries; contains provisions on the import of accessible format copies from third countries to the Union; serves to specify the obligations that authorised entities are required to fulfil when exchanging accessible format copies with third countries; sets out the applicable rules for the protection of personal data; sets out the arrangements on the evaluation of the regulation, in accordance with better regulation rules. The proposed regulation supports the right of persons with disabilities to benefit from measures designed to ensure their independence, social and occupational integration and participation in the life of the community, as enshrined in Article 26 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It also reflects the Union's commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

  • DG {u'url': u'http://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/dg-connect', u'title': u'Communications Networks, Content and Technology'}, OETTINGER Günther

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2016)0595
• Debate in Council: 3503
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A8-0102/2017
• Approval in committee of the text agreed at 1st reading interinstitutional negotiations: PE604.882

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)