UK think-tank argues for 'legal right to copy' one's own CDs
The Institute for Public Policy Research, a British progressive think-tank, has just released a white paper called "Public Innovation: Intellectual Property in a Digital Age," which urges the UK government to set up a "legal right to copy." Unlike in the US, which has a "fair use" doctrine, British citizens do not have an inherent right to rip their own CDs to their MP3 player of choice. However, Kay Withers, one of the authors of the report, told Engadget that while no Briton has ever been prosecuted for the crime of ripping one's own CDs, "we feel that it's important that the law get updated with technological progress and public preference." Withers and the IPPR hope that the recommendations will be taken into account by the government, which is currently undertaking a study of intellectual property laws. This study is being headed by the former editor of the Financial Times, Sir Andrew Gowers; his report is expected to be returned to Chancellor Gordon Brown sometime this autumn. [Warning: PDF link][Via BBC]
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michal G @ Oct 31st 2006 10:57PM
This is good, but our fair play, isn't too 'fair'... Have fun Brits..
devon @ Nov 1st 2006 1:59AM
Yeah, hopefully Washington will get a clue if the UK modifies their policy. Or perhaps the RIAA and MPAA will just try to sue the entire nation.
Matias Korhonen @ Nov 1st 2006 3:11AM
I think it's time we had a EU wide common policy on such copyright issues. Make "fair use" a right in all EU nations. If that were to happen it would be too big a market for any content provider (e.g. iTunes Music Store etc.) to pull out of because of restrictions on the use of DRM.
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Dave @ Nov 1st 2006 5:19AM
I don't think the US doctrine of fair use actually goes so far as to create a right to rip. Mostly, fair use governs things like short quotes of books in reviews, or (I think) those short 30 second sound clips of music you can hear on Amazon, or many other sites that sell music. In fact, some may recall this:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004409.php
where the RIAA is specifically saying that ripping is not a form of fair use, as a matter of law, but might be a broadly authorized use by the copyright holders. (And therefore, as the EFF ominously points out, subject to withdrawal of authorization.)