August 08, 2011
UK Business Secretary Vince Cable announced on Wednesday that the Government would back major changes to the current system of copyright law.
All 10 of the recommendations made by Professor Ian Hargreaves in May would be implemented, said Cable. The Hargreaves report accused the UK’s current copyright system of "obstructing innovation and economic growth in the UK” and included measures such as the formation of a “Digital copyright exchange” which would make it easier to get clearance to use copyrighted material.
Cable agreed to a feasibility study of implementing such a service, as well as a broad shaking-up of current legislation that makes it illegal, for example, for Britons to copy music or DVDs to other devices such as home computers or portable music players.
He said: “"Private copying is carried out by millions of people and many are astonished that it is illegal in this country. We need to bring copyright into line with people's expectations and update it for the modern digital world."
The move is also likely to make it possible for companies such as Google or Amazon to offer ‘cloud’ storage systems for customers to access their own music files, for example, over the Internet.
Chancellor George Osborne also backed the changes, saying: “Our future depends on exploiting knowledge and ideas to their full potential and the Government is committed to build upon this county’s great strength in IP.”
Opposition to the announcement was however found within the entertainment and publishing industries, with Richard Mollett, chief executive of the Publishers Association, describing the changes as an "unwarranted blunt instrument." Ivan Lewis, the Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary also stressed the need for further clarity and for the Government to “publish a clear action plan and timeline” relating to the changes.
