UK to Consider Adopting U.S.-Style ‘Fair Use’

[francescacoppa]

British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a review of the UK's intellectual property laws with an eye to adopting U.S. style fair use.

In a speech given on November 4, 2010, Cameron said, "Over there [in the U.S.], they have what are called ‘fair-use’ provisions, which some people believe gives companies more breathing space to create new products and services. So I can announce today that we are reviewing our IP laws, to see if we can make them fit for the internet age. I want to encourage the sort of creative innovation that exists in America."

Currently, as Ars Technica notes, UK intellectual property law can be quite restrictive: "there's no exception for "parody," for instance, or for ripping CDs to computers."

While the move is being considered to spur business development - in particular, a new "Silicon Valley" in East London - the adoption of fair use would be of obvious benefit to all forms of creative speech and innovation, including fanworks and remixes.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

UK to Consider Adopting U.S.-Style ‘Fair Use’

[francescacoppa.livejournal.com]

British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a review of the UK's intellectual property laws with an eye to adopting U.S. style fair use.

In a speech given on November 4, 2010, Cameron said, "Over there [in the U.S.], they have what are called ‘fair-use’ provisions, which some people believe gives companies more breathing space to create new products and services. So I can announce today that we are reviewing our IP laws, to see if we can make them fit for the internet age. I want to encourage the sort of creative innovation that exists in America."

Currently, as Ars Technica notes, UK intellectual property law can be quite restrictive: "there's no exception for "parody," for instance, or for ripping CDs to computers."

While the move is being considered to spur business development - in particular, a new "Silicon Valley" in East London - the adoption of fair use would be of obvious benefit to all forms of creative speech and innovation, including fanworks and remixes.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.