p2pnet news | Music:- “Legal or not, there’s no way in hell they’ll ever be able to enforce it. Like the story says, millions of UK citizens already make fair use of their legally-purchased media, even if it is against the law. Just like America has over 60 million active P2P users, and countless others who use DVD decrypting software, game console modifications, etc., regardless of what the law says.”

That’s a Canadian p2pnet reader’s response to news that soon, Britons may be legally able to copy one, but only one, CD to their computers.

But, “The law means bugger all when it comes to consumer rights,” says the comment post, going on:

The bottom line is that consumers are not willing to stand for this kind of abuse, and will do whatever it takes to put themselves back in control. Just ask the 250 thousand consumers who have unlocked their iPhones.

If there’s anything attempting to stop the consumers from exercising their rights (legislation, DRM, etc), they’ll find a way around it. Anything that can be seen, heard or used can and will be copied.

If the industry won’t provide the means to do so, we’ll provide it ourselves.

People with digital music players, “will be acting lawfully when they transfer music from their computer to a digital player or copy a CD for their own use, under proposed amendments to bring copyright law into the digital age,” says Guardian Unlimited, going on:

“Consumers who have been technically breaking the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 by copying tracks from CDs to their PC or digital player, or making an extra copy to play in the car, will now be able to do so for private use.”

Apparently, Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG, the members of the Big 4 organised music gang, “accept that consumers should not be punished for shifting music from one format to another”.

Isn’t that nice of them?

But, “some are concerned it will increase the perception that music can be freely copied with impunity,” the story adds.

Miinister for intellectual property Lord Triesman is, “calling on creative types to give their views about the move, which, in practical terms, must ‘not damage the interests of copyright owners’,” says Freelance UK, continuing:

“He is running a consultation until March 7, designed, he said, to ensure the UK’s copyright system “keeps up with the times and works effectively.”

“Explaining the importance of updating the IP system, he added: ‘It underpins the success of a variety of culturally important and economically successful sectors of UK industry such as music, film, computer games and sport’.”

But industry group the Association of Independent Music is horrified.

It’s warned the exception —- that copies could be made for personal use —- could open the floodgates to “uncontrolled and unstoppable” private copying and sharing from person to person, says the Financial Times.

The move could set a dangerous precedent, it has AIM boss Alison Wenham declaring worriedly.

CDs would largely be redundant in five years, she predicted, “but the new legislation would still remain and could be misused,” she says, according to the eFT.

Slashdot it!

Also see:

one, but only one – UK ready to make CD copying ‘legal’, January 8, 2008
Guardian Unlimited – Copying music legally in the digital age, January 9, 2008
Freelance UK – New rules to OK creative copying, January 10, 2008
Financial Times – Proposal to make CD copying legal, January 8, 2008

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 at 7:02 am and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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