Copyright Exceptions for the Disabled
Copyright exceptions may be made concerning the reproduction of copyrighted
material to be viewed by the blind or other people living with disabilities.
The reproduction of copyrighted material must be performed by an authorized
entity. The authorized entity will have the right to produce and distribute the
altered copyrighted material to be viewed by those with disabilities.
Phonorecords or literary works that are to be distributed to the disabled must
be:
Not reproduced or distributed in a format that is not
specially made to be enjoyed by a disabled person;
There must be a notice that any further reproduction or
distribution of the material in anything other than the specialized format is
not a copyright exception; and
There must be notice of copyright which includes the
copyright owner and the original date of publication.
These copyright exceptions do not apply to computer programs, norm-related
referenced tests, or other testing material except for the
portions of those things that use conventional human language.
Print instructional materials that are to be used in elementary or secondary
schools may be altered to be used by disabled children if:
The inclusion of said materials are required by the State or local educational agency;
The publisher already had the right to publish print
instructional materials; and
The publisher uses their right to reproduce material
solely for the purpose of serving disabled children.
Accepted Specialized Formats
Formats that are accepted as alterations to an original work are considered
copyright exceptions if they consist of: Braille, audio text, or digital text to serve the blind or other disabilities, and large print formats may be used to serve those with
impaired vision.
