Georgia joins Marrakesh Treaty to expand access to printed works for visually impaired

Georgia has joined the Marrakesh Treaty, an international agreement designed to improve access to printed materials for people who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise unable to use standard print, the National Intellectual Property Center announced on Wednesday. 

The country’s Parliament passed the related decree on September 17, joining a global effort to address the lack of available reading materials for those with visual impairments by enabling the creation and distribution of accessible-format copies, such as braille, large print, and audiobooks, without infringing copyright laws, the IPCG said. 

Georgia’s decision to join the treaty followed a recommendation by the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2023. 

Official data from 2022 reveals 8,224 people in Georgia are living with visual impairments, including 1,515 minors. 

Accessing education and information for the individuals has often been limited due to a lack of adapted materials. With the Marrakesh Treaty, Georgia will now be able to increase the number of accessible works available through authorised institutions, the agency noted, adding it had already taken the lead in implementing the Treaty’s framework.

Under the new regulations, institutions designated as authorised entities are now permitted to distribute accessible copies of printed works. The institutions are tasked with providing educational resources and enabling access to information in non-commercial formats, such as electronic copies or adapted rentals.

Tbilisi State University became the first authorised institution on May 29, followed by Tbilisi Public School No. 202, which received authorisation on September 18, the IPCG said. 

By joining the Treaty, Georgia also gained the opportunity to collaborate with authorised institutions in 92 other member countries, facilitating the cross-border exchange of accessible-format books, the agency noted, adding the international cooperation was expected to help Georgia expand its collection of adapted works for people with reading disabilities.