Copyright
Does your national copyright legislation contain exceptions and other special provisions for people with visual impairment?
Do these exceptions allow for making copy of a book without the publisher's permission?
Do these exceptions allow for scanning books (in particular is an individual with visual impairment allowed to scan a book for him/herself, or does a special organization have to do it?)
Do these exceptions allow for sharing books produced on accessible formats? (in particular is an individual with visual impairment allowed to share with friends books he/she scanned?)
Are there special copyright provisions regarding accessible text books and other educational material?
1. Does your national copyright legislation contain exceptions and other special provisions for people with visual impairment?
Intellectual and property rights of authors are specified in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation of 1 January 2008. The Code contains exceptions for people with visual impairment.
In accordance with Article 1, Item 6, of the above Code (1274 CC) reproduction of an author's licensed text in a format accessible for the blind (braille, talking books, flash cards) is allowed if it is for a non-profit purpose. However talking books must comply with a specific audio or digital format and be read exclusively by means of special assistive equipment available to blind people, within the scope of their rehabilitation, from the Russian Fund of Social Insurance.
In accordance with a specific provision of Article 2, libraries for the blind can provide blind users with samples of works, legally introduced into circulation, for a short period of time free of charge. The author's, or any other right-holder's, agreement is not required and compensation is not due to them. Digital copies are available for use exclusively in the libraries' premises, excluding the right to digital re-reproduction.
2. Do these exceptions allow for making copy of a book without the publisher's permission?
It is not allowed to make copy of a whole book without the right-holder's permission. The law allows for making copy of only parts of a book (or other works) as required for scientific or studying purposes.
3. Do these exceptions allow for scanning books (in particular is an individual with visual impairment allowed to scan a book for him/herself, or does a special organization have to do it?)
Scanning parts of a book is permitted. Library users may borrow works exclusively in print format. The use of an electronic version is restricted to the library premises.
4. Do these exceptions allow for sharing books produced on accessible formats? (in particular is an individual with visual impairment allowed to share with friends books he/she scanned?)
Notice is given to library users that making a copy of a book or of another piece of work, or handing them over to a third person, is forbidden.
5. Are there special copyright provisions regarding accessible text books and other educational material?
Educational material is made accessible to the visually impaired through adapted formats and through the possibility of using electronic documents and databases in library premises.