Universalism in International Copyright Law as Seen through the Lens of Marrakesh

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Graeme B. Dinwoodie

Published:

2022

Publisher:

Cambridge University Press

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled mandates exceptions in national copyright laws to ensure access to special-format copies of books for people who are blind and visually impaired; it also establishes mechanisms to facilitate crossborder access to those formats. The treaty was heralded by a wide range of commentators as a step in a new direction in international copyright law. This chapter assesses the treaty's significance through the lens of a consideration that has long been part of international copyright debates, namely, the push for a universal copyright law. I explore the ways in which the Marrakesh Treaty might alter our understanding of the notion (and mechanisms) of universalism in international copyright law. The chapter considers the universalist aspiration in the development of international copyright law and examines the range of mechanisms through which universalism might now be being pursued. Furthermore, I explain the conceptual features of Marrakesh that might signal a change in the international copyright landscape, because this treaty was a milestone in international copyright law. However, its importance might lie in several aspects that are not commonly discussed.

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