Evaluation of the Marrakesh Directive and Regulation on accessible format copies for people with print related disabilities

The Commission has evaluated the Marrakesh Directive (Directive 2017/1564) and the accompanying Marrakesh Regulation (Regulation 2017/1563), as required by Article 10(1) of the Marrakesh Directive and Article 7 of the Marrakesh Regulation, and published a report and accompanying staff working document. These instruments are part of the EU copyright legislation and aim at facilitating access to books and printed materials in accessible format for people who are blind, visually impaired persons or otherwise print-disabled. The evaluation assessed the extent to which these instruments have reached their objectives, in light of the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and coherence of the framework and the EU added value.

Overall, the performance of the Marrakesh Directive and Regulation matched expectations. Against a background of existing but varied national copyright exceptions for the benefit of people with disabilities, the EU instruments improved legal certainty and availability of accessible format copies, including cross border, by clarifying the uses and beneficiaries covered by the EU copyright rules. In view of the evaluation results, no amendments are considered warranted at this stage.

The evaluation drew on a supporting study, which gathered data based on desk research and consultation activities with Member States and stakeholders. The views of the stakeholders were also received via a call for evidence. The consultation activities addressed in particular organisations representing persons with disabilities, authorised entities, and stakeholders in the publishing sector.

Background

The Marrakesh Directive and the Marrakesh Regulation aim to increase the availability of copies of books and other printed material in accessible formats for the benefit of persons with print-related disabilities. The EU instruments also aim to improve the circulation of such accessible format copies across borders.

These legislative instruments brought the necessary adaptations to EU copyright law following the accession of the European Union to the 2013 WIPO Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.