Hargreaves report welcomed by creative industry

SUGGESTIONS ON HOW to remix UK copyright law have been sort of welcomed by parties on both sides of the debate.

The report from Professor Hargreaves argues that current regulations are too restrictive - years of study well spent there - and recommends that the UK turn itself into a sort of digital clearing house, or Digital Copyright Exchange.

This, he suggested, would make it easier for digital firms to use digital content without standing on the rightsholders' digital toes. That would be an approach at odds with the draconian Digital Economy Act, for example.

"My recommendations set out how the intellectual property framework can promote innovation and economic growth in the UK economy," said Hargreaves, who rose in academia at Cardiff University.

"They are designed to enhance the economic potential of the UK's creative industries and to ensure that the emergence of high technology businesses, especially smaller businesses, in other sectors are not impeded by our IP laws."

The CBI (Confederation of British Industry) lightly welcomed the report and praised Hargreaves for his research, but added that his suggestions would have to be implemented cautiously.

"Professor Ian Hargreaves and his team conducted a thorough review of intellectual property in the UK, and this report contains some credible ideas for improving how the system works. Crucially, Hargreaves has rightly focused on promoting market access, and has rejected the wholesale adoption of fair use principles in the UK," said Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director and hatchet man.

"However, robust copyright protection should be available to all, and preferential enforcement action for material registered on the Digital Copyright Exchange must be avoided. Instead the Exchange should be a collaboration between content creators and the technology sector."

Christine Payne, general secretary of Equity and chair of the Creative Coalition Campaign, thought she was obliged to add something about the positive impact on jobs and growth the recommendations might have.

"With today's fragile economy, we need to nurture jobs and growth. This is especially important in the creative sector which supports tens of thousands of jobs," she said. "There is much to consider in today's report and we are keen to work with the Government to ensure that any changes are business led not regulatory fixes."