Government Announcement on Copyright Reform

On Thursday 20 December, the Government published the final part of its response to its Copyright Consultation: "Modernising Copyright: a modern, robust and flexible framework". The Intellectual Property Office's press release can be found here

In the words of the IPO "The response sets out Government decisions on changes to the framework for 'copyright exceptions'. These changes will introduce greater freedoms in copyright law to allow third parties to use copyright works for a variety of economically and/or socially valuable purposes without the need to seek permission from copyright owners. Protections for the interests of copyright owners and creators are built in to the revised framework. Government will bring forward secondary legislation to introduce these changes in 2013. Prior to this, the Government will publish the draft regulations for technical review."