UK Consultation on Copyright

LazyScot · 12-17-2008, 04:58 AM

(This is probably only relevant to UK residents; and apologies if this has already been posted.)

The UK government has started a policy consultation on Copyright. Without wanting to start another debate on the issue(s) here, I think it would be great if people here could be involved in the process to try and balance the debates.

The website is www.ipo.gov.uk/c-policy-consultation.htm which has an "Issues Paper", and an email address (the Issues Paper gives a snail-mail address and FAX number). They are looking for initial responses by 6th February 2009.

Lexicon · 12-19-2008, 11:02 AM

There really is no point, any effort expended in joining the debate would be entirely wasted.

This is a rubber stamping exercise, so the government can point to the consultation and say "Look, we did a consultation, we care about what the public think on this issue." We all know that the only voices actually heard in this debate will be those of industry lobbyists, amplified by party contributions and promises of future positions on corporate boards.

The days when debate had any impact upon "democratic" decision making are long gone, if they ever existed at all. Laws are bought, like everything else in our society.

Sparrow · 12-19-2008, 11:46 AM

The debate could be interesting, even though it won't affect the outcome.

Given the international scope of copyright these days, I don't know why we don't hand it over to the European Parliament to come up with an EU-wide policy.
(Although it would reduce the revenue generating possibilities of selling British government policy for dosh in these cash-strapped times. And MPs will undoubtedly need to examine the state of the publishing industry in the Caribbean.

)

12-17-2008, 04:58 AM	#1
LazyScot DSil Posts: 3,201 Karma: 6895096 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hants, UK Device: Kindle, Cybook	UK Consultation on Copyright (This is probably only relevant to UK residents; and apologies if this has already been posted.) The UK government has started a policy consultation on Copyright. Without wanting to start another debate on the issue(s) here, I think it would be great if people here could be involved in the process to try and balance the debates. The website is www.ipo.gov.uk/c-policy-consultation.htm which has an "Issues Paper", and an email address (the Issues Paper gives a snail-mail address and FAX number). They are looking for initial responses by 6th February 2009.

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12-19-2008, 11:02 AM	#2
Lexicon Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 542 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	There really is no point, any effort expended in joining the debate would be entirely wasted. This is a rubber stamping exercise, so the government can point to the consultation and say "Look, we did a consultation, we care about what the public think on this issue." We all know that the only voices actually heard in this debate will be those of industry lobbyists, amplified by party contributions and promises of future positions on corporate boards. The days when debate had any impact upon "democratic" decision making are long gone, if they ever existed at all. Laws are bought, like everything else in our society.

12-19-2008, 11:46 AM	#3
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	The debate could be interesting, even though it won't affect the outcome. Given the international scope of copyright these days, I don't know why we don't hand it over to the European Parliament to come up with an EU-wide policy. (Although it would reduce the revenue generating possibilities of selling British government policy for dosh in these cash-strapped times. And MPs will undoubtedly need to examine the state of the publishing industry in the Caribbean. )

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