HL Deb 09 July 2003 vol 651 c43WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What monitoring is done of compliance with the provisions and purposes of the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002. [HL3766]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)

We would expect feedback on the exceptions to copyright in the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 to form a part of our regular contact with representatives of copyright holders and disability organisations. However, as with all exceptions to copyright, the Government do not monitor day-to-day compliance with the terms of exceptions.

Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the publisher of the latest Harry Potter book complied with the provisions of the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002; and whether any asessment has been made of the book's availability in formats accessible to visually impaired people. [HL3767]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 only introduces exceptions to copyright so that visually impaired people, or charitable or similar organisations acting on their behalf, can make accessible formats of books, subject to certain conditions, but without infringing copyright. The Act does not, therefore, require publishers to make accessible formats, but I understand that the publisher of the latest Harry Potter book is making efforts to ensure that it is available in accessible formats.