Re: UK to review its IP laws?

["FrederickFriend" <ucylfjf@ucl.ac.uk>]

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

--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Cox" <John.E.Cox@btinternet.com>
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 12:21 AM
To: <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
Subject: UK to review its IP laws?

> We have been here before.  In 2006 the previous government 
> commissioned the Gower Review of Intellectual Property, which 
> reported late in 2006.
>
> Prime Minister Cameron's announcement does not presage 
> immediate reform. What was important in his announcement was 
> that a six-month review has been commissioned, to be led by 
> Prof Ian Hargreaves.  It will be an independent review.  Given 
> the state of the economy, it will look at aspects of 
> intellectual property law that inhibit economic growth, 
> especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which 
> tend to drive growth and employment.  The review will report in 
> April 2011.
>
> What it will say is anybody's guess.  The last UK copyright 
> statute was the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.  A 
> number of changes have been made to copyright law since then, 
> by way of regulation made under the powers granted by that Act. 
> It is unlikely that a new statute will result from the review, 
> but there may be changes to aspects of the law.  At the moment, 
> any use of any copyright material 'for commercial purposes' 
> (even by charities; the test is the purpose of the copying, not 
> the status of the copier) falls outside what we call 'fair 
> dealing' and 'library privilege'.  This aspect of the 
> exceptions to copyright may be addressed.
>
> However, this is all speculation.  Traditionally, the balance 
> of interest between copyright owners and copyright users has 
> been less generous to users that the US concept of 'fair use'. 
> Striking that balance is always difficult and controversial. 
> If the Hargreaves recommendations call for an extension of 
> copyright exceptions, that will be a radical change.
>
> John Cox
> Managing Director
> John Cox Associates Ltd
> Rookwood, Bradden
> Towcester, Northamptonshire
> NN12 8ED
> United Kingdom
> E-mail: John.E.Cox@btinternet.com
> Web: www.johncoxassociates.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> [mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Okerson, Ann
> Sent: 08 November 2010 23:27
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Subject: UK to review its IP laws?
>
> For interest, see the following.  Will the UK really revise
> copyright law to this extent?
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11695416
>
> Ann Okerson/Yale Library