An analysis by EIFL of Malawi’s copyright law, adopted in September 2016, shows the introduction of a commercial availability test - the requirement to check if a work is commercially available before an accessible format copy can be made. Inclusion of this test undermines the objective of the Marrakesh Treaty which is to end the global ‘book famine’ for persons with print disabilities.

Leading library organizations, EIFL, AfLIA (African Library and Information Associations and Institutions) and IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), call on Malawi to embrace the spirit of the Marrakesh Treaty by removing the requirement to undertake a commercial availability test before an accessible format copy can be made.

Download the statement in Word format.

Read about EIFL’s work advocating for the Marrakesh Treaty.