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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Vince Cable scraps Labour plans to block websites, outlines widespread changes to our copyright law
August 3, 2011 6:40 PM
• [Aug 03] Paul Thompson writes: THE government's controversial plans to block unlawful file sharing websites were scrapped today by Vince Cable. Brought in by the last government in the hastily put together Digital Economy Act, the plans to force ISPs to block websites was shown to be unworkable in a detailed report from Ofcom.
. . Other changes announced include:
• Allowing parodies of existing works (e.g. mocking an existing film or song by borrowing its most distinctive parts)
• The ability to privately copy without breaking the law (e.g. to copy your CD's to your iPod as millions already do)
• A small claims court for copyright infringement (allowing individual rights holders to easily pursue claims of up to £5000) . .
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Sweeping intellectual property reforms to boost growth and add billions to the economy
• [Aug 03]: THE Government today announced plans to support economic growth by modernising UK intellectual property laws. Ministers have accepted the recommendations made in an independent review which estimate a potential benefit to the UK economy of up to £7.9 billion.
The recommendations were made in May 2011 by Professor Ian Hargreaves in his report, - 'Digital Opportunity: A review of intellectual property and growth'. Modernising intellectual property law is a key action from the Government's Plan for Growth, published in March alongside the Budget, which will help create the right conditions for businesses to invest, grow and create jobs.
Announcing the Government's response to the review, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The Government is focused on boosting growth and the Hargreaves review highlighted the potential to grow the UK economy. By creating a more open intellectual property system it will allow innovative businesses to develop new products and services which will be able to compete fairly in the UK's thriving markets for consumer equipment. We are accepting the recommendations and will now set about reforming the UK's intellectual property systems. Opening up intellectual property laws can deliver real value to the UK economy as well as the creators and consumers." . .
• Julian Huppert MP writes: Hargreaves and site-blocking: a good start [Lib Dem Voice Aug 04]
• Opinion: Digital Economy Act - The fight isn't over [Duncan Stott Lib Dem Voice Aug 04]
• Vince Cable: copyright law shake-up will give £8bn boost to economy [Daily Telegraph Aug 04]
• Government split over policing the internet [Spectator Aug 03]
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