IPOPHL wants books to be more inclusive to people with physical disabilities

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) wants published materials to be more accessible to persons with physical disabilities, a move that will further revise copyright rules in the name of inclusivity.

In a statement, IPOPHL said its proposed amendment to its enabling law would allow published materials to be reproduced or distributed on a non-profit basis for people with physical disabilities.

It will expand the copyright limitation passed in the 2013 amendment of the country’s intellectual property law that allowed this exclusively for use of the blind, visually, and reading-impaired persons.

“The provision widened the scope of copyright limitation not just to the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print-disabled persons, but also those unable (through physical disability) to hold or manipulate a book, or to focus or move the eyes to the extent normally acceptable for reading,” IPOPHL said.

The government agency submitted its draft bill to Congress in November. A copy of this draft has not yet been released to the public.

This comes as IPOPHL moves to accede to a treaty under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a document which WIPO said has “a clear humanitarian and social development dimension.”

Called the Marrakesh Treaty, the main goal of this treaty is “to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled (VIPs),” according to WIPO’s website.

IPOPHL said it has submitted to WIPO its instrument of accession to this treaty on December 18 last year. IPOPHL also said that it has been pushing for the country’s accession in a bid to increase trade in published materials in ‘accessible formats.’

Publications in Braille format or audiobooks, for example, are considered accessible format copies.

Moreover, IPOPHL said the Marrakesh Treaty allows the Philippines to export and import copyrighted works in accessible formats to and from other countries that are party to the agreement.

To date, there are 47 countries contracting parties to the Marrakesh Treaty.

The treaty was adopted internally in June 2013. However, even before formally acceding to it, IPOPHL said the government has already “introduced the intent and spirit” of the treaty through Republic Act No. 10372, the 2013 amendment to the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

“This will go a long way to enhance access to information if approved by Congress and the President,” said IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago, referring to the draft bill the agency submitted to Congress late last year.