Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T04:24:17.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Amending Chinese Copyright Law to Fulfil Obligations under the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for the Print Disabled

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2019

Jingyi Li Open the ORCID record for Jingyi Li [Opens in a new window]  and
Niloufer Selvadurai
Jingyi Li*
Affiliation:
Law School, Shandong University; Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University.
Niloufer Selvadurai
Affiliation:
Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University. Email: [email protected].
*
Email: [email protected] (corresponding author).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Chinese copyright laws have not yet given sufficient consideration to copyright exceptions or limitations to facilitate access to copyright works for persons with a print disability. Now that China has become a signatory party of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled, it would be significant if China could amend its copyright laws so as to end the “book famine” for a huge population with a print disability. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese copyright exceptions for the print disabled and propose amendment options for China's copyright law to ensure compliance with its signatory obligations. To this end, the paper provides an overarching examination of China's copyright exception arrangements for the print disabled, identifies the gap between Chinese copyright laws and the Marrakesh Treaty, and analyses previous proposals on copyright law reform.

摘要

中国于 2013 年签订了《关于为盲人、视力障碍者或其他印刷品阅读障碍者获得已出版作品提供便利的马拉喀什条约》（《马拉喀什条约》），承诺规定著作权保护的限制和例外情况，允许相关组织和个人在未经著作权人授权的情况下，制作、发行和传播作品的盲文、有声图书、电子版及其他无障碍格式版供印刷品阅读障碍者使用。本文通过审视中国著作权法及相关法律、整理无障碍格式版作品的供给数据、分析限制著作权保护的具体案例，指出中国现行著作权保护的限制和例外适用范围狭窄，不能有效支持盲文出版社等相关机构制作、发行和传播作品的无障碍格式版。文章建议，应当以著作权法修改草案的公开讨论为契机，按照《马拉喀什条约》的基本要求，修改中国著作权法以及其他相关法律，扩大受益人范围，增加无障碍格式版的类型，明确定义合法制作无障碍格式版的机构，允许合法提供促进无障碍阅读的科技和服务，以促使中国批准《马拉喀什条约》，保障中国七千五百万视力障碍人士平等地获取著作权作品、参与文化生活和融入社会。

Keywords

Marrakesh Treatyprint disabilitycopyright exceptions and limitationsChinese copyright laws《马拉喀什条约》印刷品阅读障碍著作权法合理使用
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 240 , December 2019 , pp. 1066 - 1086
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aufderheide, Patricia, and Jaszi, Peter. 2011. Reclaiming Fair Use: How to Put Balance Back in Copyright. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Blanck, Peter. 2014. eQuality: The Struggle for Web Accessibility by Persons with Cognitive Disabilities. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Boyle, Robert. 2004. “A manifesto on WIPO and the future of intellectual property.” Duke Law & Technonogy Review 9, 1–12.Google Scholar
Chen, Li. 2016. “Woguo mangren gaodengjiaoyu xianzhuang de shenshi yu tuwei” (The examination and breakthrough of the current situation of higher education for the blind). Suihua xueyuan xuebao 10, 96–99.Google Scholar
Chon, Margaret. 2006. “Intellectual property and the development divide.” Cardozo Law Review 27, 2821–2912.Google Scholar
Chon, Margaret. 2014. “Intellectual property and theories of developmental justice.” In Gervais, Daniel J. (ed.), Intellectual Property, Trade and Development: Strategies to Optimize Economic Development in a TRIPS-Plus Era. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 256–286.Google Scholar
Deng, Yawen. 2008. “Ruoshi qunti de xinxi zhangai yu tushuguan de zhishi yuanzhu” (The information obstacles for vulnerable groups and the knowledge assistance provided by libraries). Keji qingbao kaifa jingji 35, 5–7.Google Scholar
Drahos, Peter. 1999. “The universality of intellectual property rights: origins and development,” http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/tk/en/wipo_unhchr_ip_pnl_98/wipo_unhchr_ip_pnl_98_1.pdf. Accessed 12 December 2016.Google Scholar
Fitzpatrick, Shae. 2014. “Setting its sights on the Marrakesh Treaty: the US role in alleviating the book famine for persons with print disabilities.” Boston College International & Comparative Law Review 37(1), 139–172.Google Scholar
Guo, Peng. 2012. “Woguo jishu cuoshi baohu jiqi liwai de falü goujia wanshan: dui zhuzuoquanfa xiugai caoan de bu xiugai zhiyi” (To improve the exception for technological measures: a critical rethink on the Copyright Law Amendment Bill). Jinan xuebao (shehui kexue ban) 10, 108–115.Google Scholar
Harpur, Paul. 2017. Discrimination, Copyright and Equality: Opening the E-Book for the Print Disabled. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Harpur, Paul, and Suzor, Nicolas. 2013. “Copyright protections and disability rights: turning the page to a new international paradigm.” University of New South Wales Law Journal 36, 745–778.Google Scholar
Harpur, Paul, and Suzor, Nicolas. 2014. “The paradigm shift in realising the right to read: how ebook libraries are enabling in the university sector.” Disability & Society 29(10), 1658–71.Google Scholar
Helfer, Laurence R. 2007. “Toward a human rights framework for intellectual property.” University of California Davis Law Review 40, 971–1020.Google Scholar
Hersh, Marion, and Johnson, Michael (eds.). 2008. Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired and Blind People. London: Springer.Google Scholar
Jaeger, Paul T., and Bowman, Cynthia Ann. 2005. Understanding Disability: Inclusion, Access, Diversity, and Civil Rights. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.Google Scholar
Jayakar, Krishna, Liu, Chun, Madden, Gary and Park, Eun-A. 2015 “Promoting broadband and ICT access for disabled persons: comparative analysis of initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region.” The Information Society 31(4), 299–314.Google Scholar
Kapczynski, Amy. 2008. “The access to knowledge mobilization and the new politics of intellectual property.” The Yale Law Journal 117, 262–67.Google Scholar
Ku, Vicky. 2004. “Critique of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act's exception on encryption research: is the exemption too narrow?” Yale Journal of Law & Technology 7(2), 465–490.Google Scholar
Leonard, Claire. 2012. “Copyright, moral rights and the first amendment: the problem of integrity and compulsory speech.” Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts 35(2), 293–320.Google Scholar
Li, Jianguo. 2012. “Quanguo renmin daibiao dahui changwu weiyuanhui zhifa jiancha zu guanyu jiancha ‘Zhonghua renmin gongheguo canji ren baozhang fa’ shishi qingkuang de baogao” (Report of the Standing Committee of the NPC on the application of disability law), 30 August 2012, http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/xinwen/2012-08/30/content_1735374.htm.Google Scholar
Li, Jingyi. 2015. “Facilitating access to digital content for the print disabled: the need to expand exemptions to copyright laws.” Intellectual Property Journal 27(3), 355–384.Google Scholar
Li, Xiao. 2013. “Woguo mangren yuedu ziyuan ji tuiguang xianzhuang” (Reading resources and developments for blind people in China). Xinshiji tushuguan 5, 19–22.Google Scholar
Liang, Zhiwen. 2012. “Zhuzuoquan helishiyong de leixinghua” (Classified cases of fair use in copyright law). Huadong zhengfa daxue xuebao 3, 34–45.Google Scholar
Light, Sheldon. 1979. “Parody, burlesque, and the economic rationale for copyright.” Connecticut Law Review 11(4), 615–636.Google Scholar
Lin, Min. 2015. “The impact of new international copyright legislation on library service for visually impaired people.” Library and Information Services 10, 74–78.Google Scholar
Liu, Huan, Wu, Wenyu, Chen, Jianxiang, Liu, Chang and Lu, Beirong. 2015. “Jiyu WCAG 2.0 de gaoxiao menhui wangzhan kefangwenxing yanjiu” (Accessibility evaluation on college portal websites based on ACAG 2.0). Huadong shifan daxue xuebao ziran kexue ban 6, 143–151.Google Scholar
Mei, Shuwen. 2008. “Xinxi wangluo chuanboquan helishiyong de lifa wanshan” (To improve the free-use system in the network dissemination regulation). Faxue 6, 103–112.Google Scholar
Netanel, Weinstock Neil. 2008. Copyright's Paradox. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Obrenović, Ž. 2009. “Web accessibility and open source software.” Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology 4(4), 227–235.Google Scholar
Office of the High Commission for Human Rights. 2000. “Intellectual property rights and human rights: sub-commission on human rights resolution 2000/7.” 52nd Session, 25th meeting, UN Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/Res/2000/7.Google Scholar
Peltz, Richard J. 2009. “Global warming trend? The creeping indulgence of fair use in international copyright law.” Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal 17(2), 267–288.Google Scholar
Rose, Mark. 1993. Authors and Owners: The Invention of Copyright. Oxford: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Shaheed, Farida. 2014. “Copyright policy and the right to science and culture.” Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, United Nations Human Rights Council, A/HRC/28/57.Google Scholar
Shaver, Lea. 2014. “Copyright and inequality.” Washington University Law Review 92, 117–168.Google Scholar
State Council Legislative Affairs Office. 2014. “Zhuzuo quanfa xiugai caoan (xiuding songshen gao) zhengqiu yijian” (Copyright Law Amendment Bill Draft (amended review version) seeking advice), 6 June, http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-06/10/content_2697701.htm. Accessed 12 September 2018.Google Scholar
Sullivan, Judith. 2007. “Study on copyright limitations and exceptions for the visually impaired.” WIPO Doc. SCCR/15/7.Google Scholar
Thomas, Nicole M. 2012. “An education: the three-step test for development.” European Intellectual Property Review 34(4), 244–260.Google Scholar
Tussey, Deborah. 2001. “From fan sites to filesharing: personal use in cyberspace.” Georgia Law Review 35, 1129–34.Google Scholar
Vezzoso, Simonetta. 2014. “The Marrakesh spirit – a ghost in three steps?” IIC – International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law 45(7), 796–820.Google Scholar
Wang, Huang, and Liu, Xiaobing. 2012. “Fang Zhongguo mangwen chubanshe he Zhongguo mangwen tushuguan: bosa guangming de jingshen shizhe” (Interview with the China Braille Publishing House and China Braille Library: spreading the light of the spiritual messenger). Guangming ribao, 31 May, http://media.people.com.cn/GB/40757/18033580.html. Accessed 31 May 2012Google Scholar
Wang, Qian. 2013. “Lun Malakashi tiaoyue ji dui woguo zhuzuoquan lifa de yingxiang” (The influences of the Marrakesh Treaty on Chinese copyright legislation). Faxue 10, 51–63.Google Scholar
Wang, Tieya. 1998. Guojifa yin lun (Introduction to International Law). Beijing: Beijing University Press.Google Scholar
Wang, William Yang, and Georgila, Kallirroi. 2011. “Automatic detection of unnatural word-level segments in unit-selection speech synthesis.” Paper presented at the IEEE ASRU 2011, http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~yww/papers/asru2011.pdf. Accessed 8 July 2017.Google Scholar
WHO (World Health Organization). 2010. “Global data on visual impairments,” http://www.who.int/blindness/GLOBALDATAFINALforweb.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 12 September 2016.Google Scholar
WTO (World Trade Organization). 2000. “United States – Section 110(5) of the US Copyright Act.” Panel report, WT/DS160/R, 15 June.Google Scholar
Yi, Jun. 2014. “Fa bu jinzhi jie ziyou de sifa jingyi” (Absence of legal prohibition means freedom in civil area). Zhongguo shehui kexue 4, 121–142.Google Scholar
Zhang, Jianhua (ed.). 2006. Xinxi wangluo chuanbo quan baohu tiaoli (Interpretation of the Regulation on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information). Beijing: China Legal Publishing House.Google Scholar
Zhang, Mengxuan, Zhao, Ying and Fan, Jiaoying. 2016. “Mianxiang yidong zhongduan de wangzhan wuzhangai sheji yanjiu” (Research on standards of mobile web access). Xiandai qingbao 5, 110–16.Google Scholar
Zhang, Xiaodong. 2001. “Yelun guojifa zai woguo de shiyong” (Discussions on the adoption of international treaties in China). Faxue pinglun 6, 73–79.Google Scholar
Zhao, Jianwen. 2010. “Guoji tiaoyue zai Zhongguo falü tixi zhong de diwei” (The status of international treaties in Chinese legal system). Faxue yanjiu 6, 190–206.Google Scholar
Zhao, Xiangdong. 2007. “Beijing gaodeng jiaoyu zhong de canji xuesheng – Beijing 13 suo gaodeng xuexiao canji xueshang xianzhuang diaocha” (Disabled students in higher education in Beijing – a survey of the disabled students in 13 higher education institutions in Beijing). Zhongguo teshu jiaoyu 7, 13–18.Google Scholar
Zhao, Ying, and Hu, Lijia. 2016. “Jiyu WCAG biaozhun de zhengfu wangzhan xinxi wuzhangai yanjiu” (Research on barrier-free governmental website based on WCAG standards). Qingbao tansuo 6, 97–102.Google Scholar