Legalising Format-shifting

Format-shifting, space-shifting and time-shifting are curious oddities of copyright law. Two of these three are currently illegal in the UK, all are routinely done by thousands, if not millions of people across the country. While there have been attempts and drives to change this by legalising format- and space-shifting, the current EU laws on copyright seem designed to prevent such a reduction to copyright law.

Stop Copyright Extension Now

[Originally posted at pirateparty.org.uk in April 2011]

Once again a move to extend copyright is making its way through the European Parliament. The move to extend the copyright on sound recordings (and other “neighbouring rights”) began in April 2009 when, under intense pressure from the music publishing lobby, the European Parliament agreed to increase the duration of this copyright from 50 years to 70 years (compromising on the Commission’s and lobbyists’ demand of 95 years). However, before this could be implemented, elections were called and a new Parliament was voted in, including one member from the Pirate movement. Now, nearly two years later, this process has been resurrected following a change of heart within the Danish government.

This time, however, we have a chance of fighting back. A campaign to challenge this extension (or at least demand that it be debated by the new Parliament) has been started by Christian Engström from within the European Parliament. All he needs to open this issue up is 40 or more signatures from MEPs. There are currently 72 UK MEPs, so we can make a difference here.