Earlier this week the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) called for the views of users, consumers and creators of copyright to ensure that UK industries have the right European framework in which to thrive.
In a statement entitled ‘Copyright in Europe – call for views’, the IPO said that UK copyright laws need to keep pace with technological development and take account of users’ expectations, while providing incentives and opportunities for creators.
The department has therefore brought together a number of questions on the European copyright framework and areas that have been highlighted by the European Commission for further action.
In 2011 the Commission outlined a new strategy on intellectual property to establish a “comprehensive framework for copyright in the digital single market”.
There has already been some work done on reforming some proposals, such as making it easier for individuals to make use of copyrighted works within their own user-generated content.
However, as the IPO points out, since development at European level can have a major impact on what is happening in the UK in relation to copyright, the Government wants to ensure that the copyright framework is right for UK businesses.
The department is therefore inviting stakeholders’ views, as well as any supporting evidence they might have, so that it can understand the impact potential changes to the European copyright framework might have.
The statement said it will use the views and evidence gained to develop the UK’s position on these issues, as well as using it to finalise the department’s research programme in this area.
The call for views is aimed at all interested parties across all sectors, including consumers, authors and creators, publishers, researchers, content providers, libraries, schools and universities. The consultation closes on October 11 2013.