Time to update confusing UK copyright law says Consumer Focus (24 February 2010)

Three out of four (73%) of UK consumers don’t know what they are allowed to copy or record. Fewer than one in five (17%) consumers know that it is illegal to copy a CD or DVD they have bought on to a computer for their own use, and even fewer (15%) think that it is illegal to copy them to an iPod.  Nearly four in ten (38%) of those using either an iPod or MP3 player admit to copying CDs onto their player.

These are some of the striking findings of Consumer Focus' latest IPⁱ report 'Time to change the tune' who is calling on the UK Government to reform the UK’s outdated copyrightⁱ law. The report is based on 2,026 face to face interviews conducted in September 2009. Eight out of ten (80%) consumers thought that copyright law should be updated now that we have digital technologies, with slightly more (82%) keen to see reforms striking a fair balance between the interests of consumers and artists.

Jill Johnstone, International Director, Consumer Focus said: ‘The credibility of UK copyright law has fallen through the floor.  Millions of consumers are regularly copying CDs or DVDs and are unaware they are breaching copyright law'.  ‘The world has moved on and reform of copyright law is inevitable, but it’s not going to update itself.  If the Government wants consumers to respect copyright law they have to stop sitting on their hands and bring the law in line with the real world.’ 

Consumer Focus wants to see ‘fair use right’ exceptions introduced that would allow consumers to make copies of copyrighted work they have purchased provided they are for ‘non-commercial use’ – such as copying CDs or DVDs to play on a different device (format shifting).  ‘Fair use rights’ would protect copyright holders’ exclusive rights, while providing exceptions to copying activities that cause no, or minimal, economic harm to the rights holders.

For a copy of the report go to http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/assets/1/files/2010/02/Consumer-Focus-Time-to-change-the-tune1.pdf