A newly released independent review of UK copyright law suggests that legislators reform intellectual property law to bring it into the digital age. Andrew Gowers, former editor of The Financial Times, led the government-commissioned study.

“I do not think the system is in need of radical overhaul,” Gowers states in the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, which was released December 6th. “However, taking a holistic view of the system, I believe there is scope for reform to serve better the interests of consumers and industry alike.”

Among the report’s recommendations, Gowers suggests:

• Educational provisions for use of content in distance learning
• An “orphan works” provision to allow the use of content when no rightsholder is found
• Exceptions for “private copying” of all types of content for research purposes and to allow consumers to shift purchased content across different formats, such as transferring music from a CD to an mp3 player
• Exceptions for libraries to copy archive materials and to change the format of those copies to sustain archive records

The independent review also called for stronger penalties for online piracy, reduced litigation costs through mediation and other measures, and maintaining the existing 50-year term limit for copyrights on sound recordings.

England is one of several countries that have decided to take a second look at their IP laws, with a particular focus on how they address digital content use. Australia, for example, is now close to passing The Copyright Amendment Bill 2006. Much like Gower’s recommendation to allow format-shifting of purchased content by consumers, Australia’s legislation would also permit that type of personal use.

Share This