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President Donald J. Trump signed the documents for the US to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on January 28, 2019. The landmark treaty facilitates accessible copies of books to persons who are blind, visually impaired, and print disabled.

The treaty was adopted in Marrakesh in 2013 under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It became effective on September 30, 2016, and currently has 50 countries as members.

“I’m proud of the USPTO’s efforts in the negotiation of the Marrakesh Treaty, and the opportunities that it creates for the blind and visually impaired community,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Andrei Iancu. “This treaty establishes an important mechanism to both protect intellectual property rights and expand access to information and resources."