Directors UK welcomes ruling on private copying
19 June 2015
PRESS RELEASE: 19th June 2015 DIRECTORS UK WELCOMES HIGH COURT RULING ON MUSIC COPYRIGHT CASE
Directors UK welcomes the High Court’s ruling today in support of the UK music industry in a Judicial Review case concerning copyright. The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), the Musician’s Union (MU) and UK Music brought a case against the UK Government challenging their decision to introduce a private copying exception into UK copyright law, arguing that it was unlawful as it failed to provide fair compensation to rights holders, a requirement in European law.
The High Court agreed with the music industry and found that Government’s decision not to provide fair compensation was based on inadequate evidence – and that the decision was unlawful.
The ruling means that the Government will have to reconsider its position.
Directors UK CEO Andrew Chowns commented on the outcome: “We are following with interest the outcome of the Judicial Review brought by the music industry as its application will have implications for other authors and rights owners, including our own Directors UK members working in TV and film.
Like musicians, directors want audiences to have greater and easier access to their works, but it is important that any changes to copyright legislation supports fair remuneration to authors to enable them to continue to create future works. We look forward to working with the Government as part of their legislative review to find an outcome which enables both better access for consumers but which protects fair compensation to authors.“
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Notes to Editors:
- DIRECTORS UK is the single voice of British screen directors representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 5,500 members – the overwhelming majority of working film and television directors in the UK.
- DIRECTORS UK campaigns for the rights, working conditions and status of directors in the industry and works closely with fellow organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns. It also promotes excellence in the craft of direction both nationally and internationally.
For enquiries contact: Amanda Parker, Victoria Morris, Head of Communications and Public Affairs (Job-share), Directors UK Tel: 020 7240 0009 ext. 6 Direct line: 020 7845 9707 E-mail: commsandpublic@directors.uk.com Directors UK 8-10 Dryden Street, London WC2E 9NA www.directors.uk.com VICTORIA MORRIS & AMANDA PARKER Head Of Communications & Public Affairs (Job Share)