Just before Christmas, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced proposed changes to UK copyright law, in a bid to create greater freedom to use copyright works such as computer games, paintings, photographs, films, books, and music, while protecting the interests of authors and right owners.
The proposed changes are set to form part of the Government’s response to creating a modern, robust and flexible copyright framework, and some of the new measures include provisions to allow copying of works for individuals’ own personal use, parody and for the purposes of quotation.
They will also allow people to use copyright works for a variety of valuable purposes without permission from the copyright owners; whilst bringing up to date existing exceptions for education, research and the preservation of materials.
The Government has consulted extensively on these proposals, through the process of the Hargreaves Review, a formal consultation and numerous discussions with stakeholders and industry representatives.
Dr Cable says he has considered all responses very carefully, which have helped develop and refine the proposals including the balance between exceptions and licensing, before finalising the measures.
He added that, in his review of intellectual property and growth, Professor Hargreaves has made the case for the UK making greater use of these exceptions, which are allowed under EU law.
Amongst the proposed changes, people will be able to copy digital content they have bought onto any medium or device that they own, as long as it for their own personal use such as transferring their music collection or eBooks to their tablet, phone or to a private cloud.
These changes could contribute at least £500m to the UK economy over 10 years, and perhaps much more from reduced costs, increased competition and by making copyright works more valuable.