Sweeping changes to UK's "outdated" copyright law

People will be able to legally rip CDs, make copies of ebooks, games, films and other digital media that they paid for providing it is for personal use.

They will also be able to use these works in parodies and for the purposes of quotations said Business Secretary Vince Cable. Announcing the planned changes to the UK's copyright laws, he said this will give greater freedom for people to use copyright work while protecting the interests of the rights owners.

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"Making the intellectual property framework fit for the 21st century is not only common sense but good business sense. Bringing the law into line with ordinary people's reasonable expectations will boost respect for copyright, on which our creative industries rely.

"We feel we have struck the right balance between improving the way consumers benefit from copyright works they have legitimately paid for, boosting business opportunities and protecting the rights of creators," Cable said today.

The changes announced are a response to the Hargreaves Report published in May 2011. Professor Ian Hargreaves said at the time that the UK laws needed a radical shake-up.

"Could it be true that laws designed more than three centuries ago with the express purpose of creating economic incentives for innovation by protecting creators' rights are today obstructing innovation and economic growth?

"The short answer is: yes," he said.

Cable said the Government had consulted extensively on Hargreaves's proposals and new measures include provisions to allow copying of works for individuals' own personal use, parody and for the purposes of quotation.

They allow people to use copyright works for a variety of valuable purposes without permission from the copyright owners. They will also bring up to date existing exceptions for education, research and the preservation of materials.

In addition the Government will introduce a new, non-statutory system for clarifying areas where there is confusion or misunderstanding on the scope and application of copyright law.

Copyright notices will issued by the Intellectual Property Office. These notices are intended to clarify, but not make new law.