Baljid Dashdeleg, EIFL Copyright Coordinator in Mongolia, represented EIFL at a Regional Seminar on Exceptions and Limitations to Libraries, Archives and Educational Institutions.

The seminar was organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Copyright Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (copag.gov.az) and took place in the capital, Baku on 30 November - 1 December 2015. The countries represented at the regional event were Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey.

EIFL gave three presentations. The first concerned current topics for libraries and copyright. The topics included limitations and exceptions, licences for electronic resources, orphan works and text and data mining.

The second presentation concerned libraries and cross-border collaboration using two examples: preservation and document delivery services to library users.

The third presentation, that featured libraries and accessibility, generated debate about the practicalities of creating accessible format copies, and the library experience in Mongolia providing reading materials for blind and visually impaired people.

The presentation also described how the Mongolian library consortium supported ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty for persons with print disabilities, ratified by Mongolia on 23 September 2015, marking the half way point towards entry into force of the treaty. Other countries were encouraged to ratify the treaty as soon as possible in order to help improve the lives of blind and visually impaired people.

Prof Kenneth D. Crews, author of the WIPO Study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives, presented the findings of the study. Reproduction rights organizations were also represented at the seminar.

EIFL looks forward to working with partners in the region in support of libraries, and speedy ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty. Thirteen countries have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty; seven more ratifications are needed for the treaty to enter into force.