Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

[F1 31F Sections 31A to 31BB: interpretation and general U.K.

(1) This section supplements sections 31A to 31BB and includes definitions.

(2) “Disabled person” means a person who has a physical or mental impairment which prevents the person from enjoying a copyright work to the same degree as a person who does not have that impairment, and “disability” is to be construed accordingly.

(3) But a person is not to be regarded as disabled by reason only of an impairment of visual function which can be improved, by the use of corrective lenses, to a level that is normally acceptable for reading without a special level or kind of light.

(4) An “accessible copy” of a copyright work means a version of the work which enables the fuller enjoyment of the work by disabled persons.

(5) An accessible copy—

(a) may include facilities for navigating around the version of the work, but

(b) must not include any changes to the work which are not necessary to overcome the problems suffered by the disabled persons for whom the accessible copy is intended.

(6) “Authorised body” means—

(a) an educational establishment, or

(b) a body that is not conducted for profit.

(7) The “supply” of a copy includes making it available for use, otherwise than for direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage, on terms that it will or may be returned.

(8) To the extent that a term of a contract purports to prevent or restrict the doing of any act which, by virtue of section 31A, 31B or 31BA, would not infringe copyright, that term is unenforceable.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 31F substituted (1.6.2014) by The Copyright and Rights in Performances (Disability) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1384), regs. 1(1), 2(5) (with Sch. para. 9)