Cuba joins the Marrakesh Treaty

On 4 March, Cuba deposited its instrument of accession to the Marrakesh Treaty, which will come into force in the country on 4 June. Administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, this treaty requires states to introduce copyright exceptions to enable the production and distribution of books and other works in accessible formats, such as Braille, audio, or adapted digital text, for people who are blind, have a visual impairment, or have difficulty reading print. The Treaty also permits these accessible copies to be exchanged between authorised entities in different countries. 

Once the Marrakesh Treaty comes into force in Cuba, it will cover all 19 Latin American countries. In practice, Cuban libraries and other authorised entities will be able to join the international network for the exchange of accessible works, which will increase the availability of adapted titles and eliminate the need for case-by-case authorisation.