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UK Reviewing Copyright Laws
Uebergeek writes "It looks like the UK is going to be reviewing its copyright laws. Prime Minister David Cameron specifically cites the US's Fair Use doctrine as something they wish to incorporate into their own laws... apparently they wish to 'encourage the sort of creative innovation that occurs in America.' One can only assume that they've been missing the continual assault on the Fair Use doctrine here in the States."
Well, I guess that they might see the value in the law as written, even if that doesn't tend to be how the law plays out.
Finally, UK TV might dump all those brain-dead quiz shows where people "know things" and that David Attaboy or whatever and his animal sex preoccupation and move towards more proper explosion-based documentaries like we have in the US.
And the news? Good grief - I watched UK news and the whole time it was just people talking about facts and things. There wasn't a SINGLE ARGUMENT or fight during the entire show. What the hell kind of news reporting is that?
This space available.
ACTA Sweetner(TM) guaranteed no calories and no teeth.
Cameron says, "So I can announce today that we are reviewing our IP laws, to see if we can make them fit for the internet age." However, he fails to mention that they are already "reviewing" the UK copyright laws under the veil of ACTA and in secret. This is just a bit of fluff to remove some heat from what is already a done deal.
Patent litigation: A doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction... in which everyone seems willing to push the button
...we can deport Glen Beck...
I don't believe they'll accept our toxic waste..
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
kudos to the first country to adapt a voluntary collective licensing system as a tax.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Collective_Licensing
20 bucks a year per capita = no more damn bs
Being better for business isn't necessarily the opposite of being better for the people.
Being better for an outmoded and artificially supported business model certainly is bad for the people, mind you.
RUGBYRUGBYRUGBY
While we desperately need some sanity injected into the system after the Digital Britain Bill, I suspect this is going to really favour big-media's use of our copyrighted work.
"He said the law could be relaxed to allow greater use of copyright material without the owner's permission."
There must be plenty of companies drooling at the idea of smash and grab raids on flickr accounts and GPL'd software.
Please remain calm, there is no reason to pani... wait, where are you all going?
After a little research, it seems to me that Israel is the first (and only) nation in the world where "fair use" is possibly a "right" (see the section titled ' New User "Rights" ').
This is since Sept. 2009. My impression is that the decision has been appealed but hasn't been heard yet. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama's administration wouldn't have a few (unofficial) things to say to the Israeli government when the appeal comes up in the Israeli courts.
It's unlikely to end up a positive thing for the people.
Indeed. If you read down this a bit you'll notice that they also want US style software patents. Idiots.
I think the main problem though is big corporations vs small startups rather than business vs the people. We need the small startups to create the jobs that will get us out of the recession and I hope he realises that.
Name one "business model" that isn't artificially supported by laws?
Drugs?
You'll note that even the biggest busts, e.g. the seizure of 30 tons of cannabis last week in San Diego, seem to have no effect whatsoever on either supply or pricing.
You'll also note that organized crime and violence go hand-in-hand because criminal groups have no other means other than loose, mafia-style collusion to resolve disputes.
The fact is that we want laws to protect property and business models. If you disagree, I suggest moving your business operations to Mogadishu.