Discrimination, copyright, and equality : opening the e-Book for the print-disabled

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"While equality laws operate to enable access to information, these laws have limited power over the overriding impact of market forces and copyright laws that focus on restricting access to information. Technology now creates opportunities for everyone in the world, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, to be able to access the written word - yet the print disabled are denied reading equality, and have their access to information limited by laws protecting the mainstream use and consumption of information. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the World Intellectual Property Organization's Marrakesh Treaty have swept in a new legal paradigm. This book contributes to disability rights scholarship, and builds on ideas of digital equality and rights to access in its analysis of domestic disability anti-discrimination, civil rights, human rights, constitutional rights, copyright and other equality measures that promote and hinder reading equality"--

"Laws and institutions recognised that persons with print disabilities could not read standard books printed on paper. This gave rise to an exemption in copyright laws that is analysed in chapter 5 of this monograph. Predominantly, charities that assist the blind have utilised these exemptions to provide persons with print disabilities a library of books in alternative or accessible formats. Charities, such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and Vision Australia, have impressive catalogues of books in Braille, large print and audio cassette. Most of these works have been created by volunteers reading books onto tape, as well as scanning, editing and printing books into alternative formats"--