UKIPO: New Exceptions In UK Copyright Law Boost Flexibility For Users

By Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch

On 27 March, the United Kingdom introduced new exceptions to its Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 “to make our copyright system better suited to the digital age,” the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has said.

Exceptions were introduced in the areas of private use, quotation, parody, data-mining, research, education, libraries, disability and public administration, and will come into force in June 2014.

According to the UKIPO’s guidance overview, the exceptions will allow greater freedom for individuals to make copies of acquired media for their own use, non-commercial use, or for economically or socially valuable purposes, without permission from the original copyright holder. They also allow more flexibility for libraries, universities and schools to disseminate copyrighted materials online at onsite terminals or through distance learning.

The draft statutory instruments, guidance and impact assessments for the changes can be accessed on the UKIPO website.

The international Computer and Communications Industry Association reacted to say that it welcomes the new laws, which intend to “create greater and more sustainable economic growth across industries.”

Separately, the UK today released new figures showing growing investment in ‘intangible’ assets, with just under half being protected by intellectual property rights. More about this can be found on the UKIPO website.