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UK Government reviews copyright policy

The UK's Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is leading an initiative to review the current copyright policy, with a view to amending it for the21st century.

The initiative is one of the outcomes of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property , which was published in November 2006. The report's recommendations included action on copyright exceptions and made proposals for enforcement.

Taken with the Digital Britain initiative, that was launched in October 2008 and is due to report in 2009, the UK government is persuaded that a review of UK copyright policy is timely. The copyright review will look at four areas:

• Access to works. Is the current system too complex in relation to licensing of rights, rights clearance and copyright exceptions? Does the legal enforcementframework work in the digital age?
• Incentivising investment and creativity. Does the current copyright system provide the right incentives to sustain investment and support creativity? Is thistrue for both creative artists and commercial rights holders? Is this true for physical and online exploitation? Are those who gain value from contentpaying for it?
• Recognising creative input. Does the current system provide the right balance between commercial certainty and the rights of creators and creative artists?Are creative artists sufficiently rewarded/protected through their existing rights?
• Authenticating works. What action is needed to address issues related to authentication? In considering the rights of creative artists and other rightsholders, is there a case for differentiation?
  

The IPO chief executive Ian Fletcher said: "Rapid technological advancements have meant that consumer behaviour and demand continue to change and we need to ensure that our copyright system keeps pace with laws that make sensible and appropriate rewards for creativity while allowing consumers to continue to access and enjoy online content. "It is important that we consider the system as a whole not look at a series of issues in isolation. We want to hear views from grassroots creators to multinational corporations."

Full post as published by The BIALL Blog on February 23, 2009 (boomark / email).