Post by leunas on Oct 30, 2006 13:00:20 GMT -5
UK Government Think-Tank Calls for "New Private Right to Copy."
UK Government Think-tank Calls for "Legal Copying" of Own CDs.
The BBC reported today that a UK government policy think-tank, The Institute for Public Policy Research, has argued for a "new private right to copy". This is part of an ongoing review of laws commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown.
In a rejection of current music labels' demands, the IPPR also advocates denying the extension of music copyright beyond the current limit of 50 years after the death of the author.
While some have argued that such usage comes under the concept of "Fair Use", this is untrue and even recording music from the radio or TV remains notionally illegal to this day. The IPPR report, published today, points out that millions of consumers are thus already breaking the law every year by copying CDs and DVDs to their computers. It is calling for changes to these archaic laws.
"British copyright law is out of date with consumer practices and technological progress," said Ian Kearns, Deputy Director of the IPPR.
While pointing out that that the music industry's decision to avoid prosecuting for personal copying is "right", Mr. Kearns made it clear that "...it is not the music industry's job to decide what rights consumers have. That is the job of government."
The music industry is currently campaigning to extend the copyright term in sound recordings to 95 years.
www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=421512
UK Government Think-tank Calls for "Legal Copying" of Own CDs.
The BBC reported today that a UK government policy think-tank, The Institute for Public Policy Research, has argued for a "new private right to copy". This is part of an ongoing review of laws commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown.
In a rejection of current music labels' demands, the IPPR also advocates denying the extension of music copyright beyond the current limit of 50 years after the death of the author.
While some have argued that such usage comes under the concept of "Fair Use", this is untrue and even recording music from the radio or TV remains notionally illegal to this day. The IPPR report, published today, points out that millions of consumers are thus already breaking the law every year by copying CDs and DVDs to their computers. It is calling for changes to these archaic laws.
"British copyright law is out of date with consumer practices and technological progress," said Ian Kearns, Deputy Director of the IPPR.
While pointing out that that the music industry's decision to avoid prosecuting for personal copying is "right", Mr. Kearns made it clear that "...it is not the music industry's job to decide what rights consumers have. That is the job of government."
The music industry is currently campaigning to extend the copyright term in sound recordings to 95 years.
www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=421512