ARTICLE · 23 SEPTEMBER 2022

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Constitutional Court Looking Out For The Blind

Barnard Inc.

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Imagine not being able or, at least, having the opportunity to read Don Quixote or Macbeth due to a disability. This is felt hardest by those with visual and print impairments.

South AfricaIntellectual Property

Stefaans Gerber

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Imagine not being able or, at least, having the opportunity to read Don Quixote or Macbeth due to a disability. This is felt hardest by those with visual and print impairments. Shockingly, the majority of published books are not published in an accessible form for those with visual and print impairments.

Central to this problem is the fact that the current Copyright Act 78 of 1978 (Act) prohibits the reproduction of literary and artistic works into an accessible form without authorisation from the copyright owner to do so.

Thankfully, in the recent Constitutional Court (ConCourt) matter between Blind SA vs Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition & Others, the ConCourt's eyes were opened.

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