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Confederation of Transcribed Information Services
To promote the provision of information in alternative formats to print
The Copyright Round Table brings together producers of accessible formats for blind and partially sighed people throughout the UK. In January 2001 it adopted the Policy Statement set out below, along with criteria against which any proposals for legislaiton should be judged.
RNIB's remit is to work on behalf of blind and partially sighted people. We acknowledge that other disabled people can, in some circumstances, need modifications to the way in which information is presented, and we in no way wish to stand in their way when they press their own demands.
The following policy statement [has been adopted] by the Copyright Round Table (members listed in appendix) as the basis of their discussions with statutory and industry bodies in relation to the issue of copyright as it can affect access to information by blind and partially sighted people.
It is based on principles which assert the rights of visually impaired people to full participation in society while respecting the commercial and moral rights of creators and rightsholders.
Our policy refers to access to "information", whether available to the public in hard copy or electronically. It goes beyond the "written word" in that it also relates to the right to access graphical or pictorial information, as well as sheet music.
We acknowledge that information is made available to the public in an increasing variety of ways, and that "rights" over a particular work can be vested in a number of different people or bodies. Terms such as "rightsholder" should be accepted as shorthand for whoever has control over the use made of published material.
1. Our policy on copyright is based on the following principles:
i. The owners of intellectual property are entitled to fair remuneration for the exploitation of their work, and to respect for their moral rights over that work..
v. Rights holders should not be entitled to prevent or hinder access to their intellectual property by visually impaired people once the work is available to others, in whatever format it exists.
ii. Visually impaired people are entitled to access the same published material as their fellow citizens, in whatever format or medium they find most conducive to full appreciation.
iii. Visually impaired people are entitled to access all published material via their preferred format or medium without undue delay. iv. Visually impaired people are entitled to access all material via their preferred format or medium at no greater cost than to other people.
vi. Visually impaired people or organisations working on their behalf should not have to seek permission to transform material into accessible formats or media unless the rights holder is providing the appropriate accessible version at the same time and under the same terms.
vii. Visually impaired people and organisations working on their behalf share the common responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent commercial exploitation while ensuring that visually impaired people can access material conveniently and economically.
viii Visually impaired people and organisations working on their behalf share the common responsibility to respect creators' moral rights and the essential integrity of any material being put into an accessible format.
2. We accept in principle the policy that rights holders are entitled to fair remuneration when multiple alternative format copies of their intellectual property are produced from a lesser number of originals, but agree that this principle should only be put into practice if and when responsibility for the full cost of alternative format production is assumed by the public purse or by the rights holder. There is no principled objection to a visually impaired individual paying the same royalty for an alternative format copy as would be due for a standard copy, as long as no payment is duplicated. We would also support the principle of rightsholders being paid remuneration akin to public lending rights when alternative format copies of their works are loaned.
3. We seek legislation which:
a) asserts visually impaired people's right to equitable access to all published information;
b) enshrines rights, and does not merely create vehicles for permission;
c) is not tied to particular formats or particular technologies;
d) is future proof;
e) focuses on the individual end-user, not the format;
f) takes account of the fact that alternative formats may be legitimately produced by a wide range of organisations and by individuals;
g) acknowledges that access may be sought at or from home, school, workplace, library or any other context.
h) acknowledges that the creation of alternative format versions from lawfully acquired originals on a non-profit basis, with controlled distribution amongst visually impaired people, does not constitute an infringement of copyright and thus requires no permission.
Adopted by the Copyright Round Table, 9th January, 2001
For further information, membership application form and purchase of guidance notes and tapes please contact:
COTIS, Project Office, 67 High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0DP, United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 (0)1829 733351
Email: administrator@cotis.org.uk
COTIS President: Sir John A. Wall - Charity Number 299024
COTIS Web Site last updated 21st November 2008