Re: UK to review its IP laws?

["Tony McSean" <tmcsean@hollar.co.uk>]

In my view Fred's analysis of the UK government's position 
contains an element of wishful thinking.  It is, to put it 
mildly, very business-friendly and its close links to the 
Murdochs (as with the previous administration) don't offer much 
hope of an adventurous or courageous approach to IP issues. 
During the recent cuts senior ministers have said a lot about the 
need to develop the UK's creative industry sector, which is 
hardly indicative of a willingness to open the IP windows.  I 
might be wrong, and certainly some easing of the commercial use 
definitions would be welcome and helpful.

Tony McSean
+42 4702 1067


From: FrederickFriend [mailto:ucylfjf@ucl.ac.uk]
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Sent: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:36:29 +0000
Subject: Re: UK to review its IP laws

John is certainly right that we in the UK have been here before,
and that making any change in UK law will not happen immediately.
However, the underlying swell for change is certainly stronger
than it was even in 2006. There is a growing realisation of the
value of openness in all its forms, and a growing realisation of
the need to remove barriers to change which inhibit economic
growth. We also have a new Government which has shown a
willingness to tackle difficult political issues head-on if they
are convinced that it is in the national interest to do so.
Copyright law in the UK is long overdue for reform in the light
of technological changes since 1988, so it will be interesting to
see how Professor Hargreaves and his team approach the need for
change. I do hope that all stakeholders will approach this
opportunity in a positive spirit.

Fred Friend
JISC Scholarly Communication Consultant
Honorary Director Scholarly Communication UCL