IPPR recommend fair use copying changes
In a report released today the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) recommend changing UK copyright law to allow fair use copying. Currently activities such as copying a CD to an iPod are illegal in the UK due to the lack of a fair use provision in our copyright law (such as that found in the US). In addition they recommend keeping the copyright term for sound recordings at 50 years after the date of recording and allowing the British Library to circumvent anti-copying measures for archival purposes.
Given how much illegal activity there is, giving us fair use rights is long overdue. Having a law that is so widely flaunted weakens public understanding of (and adherence to) copyright law as a whole. Provisions for the British Library are also a good thing, although exactly what DRM encumbered fluff they feel the need to archive is a bit of a puzzle. As for leaving the copyright period alone I am personally of the opinion that the current terms are far too long but there doesn’t seem to be much public appetite for a change.
Update - the full report is available at the IPPR website.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
[…] The Gowers Review of Intellectual Property has brought the issue of copyright length into prominence in the past couple of months (and brought out swarms of music industry lobbyists). The BBC reported last night that the review is to recommend that copyright on sound recordings not be extended from the current period of 50 years. Whilst I am personally in favour of a significantly shorter terms the music industry, figure-headed by the likes of Sir Cliff Richard, had been lobbying for an extension to 95 years so a recommendation of no change does feel like a victory of sorts. The Review will be published next week as part of the Chancellors pre-budget report. […]
December 8th, 2006 at 10:57 am
[…] After the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) last week the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) are the latest organisation to jump on what’s fast becoming a bandwagon of support for fair use copying rights. Taking a slightly different tack the BPI have suggested that fair use could be allowed via an authorization granted by rights holders rather than through a change in the law. The BPI have already announced that they won’t prosecute anyone for copying music from e.g. a CD to an MP3 player. […]