© the way ahead: A strategy for copyright in the digital age

Tuesday, 1 December 2009 11:51:54 a.m.

The Government has long recognised the importance of creativity and knowledge to the UK. It lies behind our investment in research, education and skills and our support for creative industries. Much of this value relies on our ability to access and share information as never before through the Internet.

We are, however, at a crossroads in our relationship with our new digital world.

Digital technology means access to information on a vast scale. It has changed the way people publish and consume works. It allows anyone and everyone to make and distribute quick, cheap and totally accurate copies. Consumers have reached out to grab the potential of this new technology. The copyright debate, once in the hands of the professionals of the creative industries, is now a debate for everyone. Businesses and governments have seen the challenges but have been slow to respond.

Although creative industries and governments are trying to catch up with the digital world, there is more to be done. We must push harder. Policy makers need to get ahead of the game. They need to recognise the need to work with an awareness of what consumers are doing and want to do. And they need to recognise that no single national government has control of the agenda.

We must now work within the international and European framework to ensure copyright keeps up with technology and consumer behaviour. We have to make it simpler, and make it address the concerns of all those who have an interest in the copyright system: business, consumers, creators and copyright owners.

Go to source:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-copy/c-policy/c-strategy.htm