UK Games Trade Body Criticized Over Backups

Thanks to NTK for their article about a gamer taking the UK games trade body to task over their anti-backup FAQs. According to the piece, "Rogue gamer Stuart Campbell [is] tackling [UK-based] games-biz body ELSPA, this time over the informatively incorrect FAQ on their website. 'Am I legally entitled to make a backup of my original software?' you ask; they used to unequivocally answer: 'No'." But Stuart found evidence allegedly allowing "a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back-up copy of it" in a 1988 UK law, and whether definitely true or not, ELSPA have "...now modified the wording to warn against backing up the 'film and sound' copyrights which they believe games inevitably contain." Campbell was previously involved in the Fairplay campaigns against cheating slot machines and overpriced videogames.

Comments

Back that tape up.

[mnmn]

So my CD is gathering scratches or is simple deteriorating. I cant back it up? Or how about our ERP system on the server, along with 12 other applications and databases run our company. I cant back that up?

You know what will happen? People WILL back their files up regardless. They WILL produce copies at will and not feel criminal about it. Such laws will only make it more acceptable to break laws in general, making them less relevant. They should've learned from bringing down highway speed limits to 100kmph. Everyone still drives at 120, and cops only stop the ones driving at 125 or higher. The legal authority becomes a joke.

Re:Back that tape up.

[realdpk]

Makes you wonder if the UK government IT departments are making illegal backups (after all, things like Word come with some sounds and movie-tutorials don't they?) or if they're running naked/protectionless.