WEBVTT

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[Interviewer, off] OK, I'm at WIPO, on July 19th,

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where we're talking about copyright limitations and exceptions.

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One of the issues here is for blind people.

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I'm here with a member of the Switzerland delegation.

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I was wondering if you could tell people who you are

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and what you do for the Switzerland government,

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and how things are going on this negotiation

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and what really is the position of the Switzerland government.

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[Emanuel Meyer] OK, my name is Emanuel Meyer

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and I work as head legal copyright and neighboring rights in Switzerland.

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We're representing Switzerland here at WIPO, the World International Property Organization.

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With regard to an instrument for the blind, it's a clear position for Switzerland that

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all barriers for access for people with reading disabilities, people with handicaps,

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should be removed: we have that in our Constitution.

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So it's no question for us that we will do anything

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to improve the situation for people with disabilities worldwide.

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[Interviewer] So it's really a - I think it's a surprise to other people

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that Switzerland will be supporting this treaty on exceptions.

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Er - not, no, I shouldn't say everybody - what I mean, some people here

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[Meyer] Right.

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[Interviewer] Some people here, I think, didn't even really appreciate

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how supportive the Switzerland government was of this initiative.

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Again, it's a good surprise, don't get me wrong.

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[Meyer] Well, thank you. I like to think of Switzerland as a country

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that not only has banks, but also a humanitarian tradition.

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And this, in my opinion, lies within this humanitarian tradition that Switzerland is proud of.

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[Interviewer] What is your opinion about the difference between doing this as a treaty

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or some kind of a softer recommendation

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that doesn't obligate people to make changes in the laws?

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[Meyer] Well, quite frankly, I don't really understand

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why some people are not comfortable with a treaty.

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But this might be due to cultural differences or internal things.

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I have not really an idea.

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We would be ready for a treaty, in any case.

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[Interviewer] You know, thank you very much,

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and is there anything you'd like to add before I finish the interview?

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[Meyer] No, thank you, not at the moment.

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[Interviewer] Thank you very much.