TPP Undermines User Control and That's Disastrous for Accessibility

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/07/tpp-undermines-user-control-and-thats-disastrous-accessibility
Date Written:  2015-07-27
Publisher:  Electronic Frontier Foundation
Year Published:  2015
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX17796

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) threatens all users' ability to access information and participate in culture and innovation online, but it's especially severe for those with disabilities or who otherwise depend on content in accessible formats. That's because it doubles down on broken policies that were heavily lobbied for by Hollywood and other major publishers that impede the distribution of accessible works.

Abstract: 
Publishers create with their consumers in mind. Unfortunately, this means that people who don’t fit in the target market are often unconsidered during product design. Books are rarely adapted for the blind. Movies are rarely adapted for the deaf. Imagine the frustration of a person who purchased a movie only to realized that they could not enjoy it. Surely, they can alter a product they legally purchased so they can consume it? According to laws set by the TPP, this is copyright infringement. By exploiting copyright policies, the Trans- Pacific Partnership is essentially saying 'tough luck' to the disabled.

Subject Headings

• Accessibility
• Copyright
• Copyright Infringement
• Copyright Law
• Disability Issues
• Disability Rights
• Handicapped Access Design
• Intellectual Property
• International Trade Agreements
• Software
• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)