The Copyright (Marrakesh Treaty Implementation) Amendment Bill had its third reading in Parliament on 7 August.

The Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Kris Faafoi, introduced the bill.

The bill amends the Copyright Act 1994 to allow New Zealand to accede to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Marrakesh Treaty is a multilateral treaty negotiated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Clause 4 amends section 2 clarifying that the definition of “print disability” includes individuals who have a visual impairment or a perceptual or reading disability which cannot be improved to give substantially similar function without such impairment.

Clause 6 replaces section 69 (Provision of Braille copies of literary or dramatic works) with new section 69, 69A, 69B, 69C and 69D to replace “prescribed body” with “authorised body”, to provide for the import and export of accessible format copies to and from authorised entities in other Marrakesh Treaty countries.

New section 69C requires authorised entities to make and keep records of accessible format copies that they have made, distributed, imported, or exported, and to permit copyright owners to inspect these records.

The Act will commence on a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council. That date must be the date on which the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, done at Marrakesh on 27 June 2013, enters into force for New Zealand