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The Coalition Government will be reforming the UK’s intellectual property (IP) laws in an effort to keep them up to date with contemporary technology.
According to the BBC, the laws will be relaxed to allow more flexible use of copyright material without consent, and will follow the American concept of fair-use.
“Over there, they have what are called ‘fair-use’ provisions, which some people believe gives companies more breathing space to create new products and services,” said the Prime Minister David Cameron.
“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.”
The proposals have been welcomed by internet rights advocates.
“It is long overdue. Some of our copyright laws are frankly preposterous,” said the chairman of the Open Rights Group, Jim Killock.
“It’s great to have the opportunity to make the case for modern copyright that works for citizens and artists rather than yesterday’s global publishing monopolies.”
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