[Fsfe-uk] Update on what's happening with the EC copyright directive...

[Paul Mobbs]

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- From UK Patent Office,
http://www.patent.gov.uk/copy/notices/2003/copy_direct3.htm


Implementation of the Copyright Directive (2001/29/EC) and related matters

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 already provides copyright and 
related rights protection similar to many of the obligations contained in the 
Directive on copyright and related rights in the information society (the 
Copyright Directive: 2001/29/EC). However, certain, largely technical, 
changes are necessary to bring the 1988 Act into conformity with the 
Copyright Directive. Regulations giving effect to these changes and certain 
other related and consequential matters were laid before Parliament on Friday 
3 October 2003. These Regulations, the Copyright and Related Rights 
Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 2498) will come into force on 31 October 2003. 
Copies of these Regulations can be bought from the Stationery Office Off.

The making of these Regulations follows extensive consultations including the 
formal consultation on draft proposals for implementation of the Directive 
held last year. A detailed analysis of responses received and the 
Government’s conclusions is available.

Copies of the final regulatory impact assessment (pdf file 118Kb), which 
includes the previously issued guidance for businesses, and the transposition 
note, showing how the terms of the Directive have been complied with, are 
also available. Anyone requiring a paper copy of these documents or the 
analysis of responses to the consultation should get in touch with:

    Copyright Enquiries
    The Patent Office
    Harmsworth House
    13-15 Bouverie Street
    London EC4Y 8DP

    Tel: 020 7596 6566
    Fax: 020 7596 6526
    E-mail: address@hidden

A commencement order has now been made to bring the Copyright (Visually 
Impaired Persons) Act 2002 into force on 31 October 2003. The Copyright 
(Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 (Commencement) Order 2003 (SI 2003 No. 
2499) was published on 3 October 2003. This Act will introduce two new 
exceptions to copyright into the 1988 Act and is fully consistent with the 
limitations imposed on exceptions by Article 5 of the Copyright Directive; 
further details about the 2002 Act can be found in the notice issued when the 
Act received Royal Assent in November 2002.

Also laid before Parliament on 3 October 2003 are regulations, which extend to 
the law on copyright and related rights, as amended by the Copyright and 
Related Rights Regulations 2003, regulations implementing the Electronic 
Commerce Directive (the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002: 
SI 2002 No. 2013). The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) (Extension) (No. 2) 
Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 2500) will also come into force on 31 October 
2003. Further information about the Electronic Commerce Directive and the 
implementing regulations can be found on the DTI website.



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"We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government, nor are we for
this party nor against the other but we are for justice and mercy and
truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation,
and that goodness, righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity
with God, and with one another, that these things may abound."
(Edward Burroughs, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')


Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations,
3 Grosvenor Road, Banbury OX16 5HN, England
tel./fax (+44/0)1295 261864

email - address@hidden
website - http://www.fraw.org.uk/mobbsey.html
public key - http://www.fraw.org.uk/keylist.html



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