UK copyright review to decide on the feasibility of 'fair usage'

Rights holders and consumer groups are waiting anxiously to see if a review into the UK's copyright law will introduce the concept of fair usage.

Fair usage rights allow people to make personal copies of media such as CDs and DVDs they have bought, rip it to different devices and even adapt it without seeking the rights holder's permission.

But currently people in the UK who copy DVDs or CDs for their own use, or transfer copyrighted media to other devices are breaking the law. Despite the practice being widespread, no-one has been sued but fair usage rights would remove the threat of legal action.

Consumer groups are hoping that the Review of Intellectual Property and Growth, led by Professor Ian Hargreaves, will push for this right.

With the publication of a survey from Consumers International last month finding UK copyright laws outdated and unfair to consumers, Consumer Focus said that the Review of Intellectual Property and Growth gave a "vital opportunity" to update the country's law.

Jim Killock, executive director of digital rights campaigners the Open Rights Group said: "It is crazy that ripping an MP3 from a CD you've bought is a breach of copyright law.

"It's equally crazy that sampling a second or two of a tune, or satirising it, is a breach of copyright."

But rights groups have lobbied aggressively against the introduction of fair usage.

In its submission to the review, UK music trade body the BPI said: "The introduction of a fair use style exception in the UK would be likely to reduce business certainty and increase the costs to business of litigation..."

The report is expected to be published within the next week or two according to the Intellectual Property Office.