Re: [Fsfe-uk] Gowers

[Alex Hudson]

On Wed, 2006-12-06 at 13:08 +0000, Alex Hudson wrote:
> I haven't seen the full thing yet

I have now :D

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr06/other_docs/prebud_pbr06_odgowers.cfm

For:
      * introduction of private copying right for format-shifting (could
        this be DRM-busting? wouldn't be retrospective, see points
        below)
      * unlocking of 'orphan works'
      * no change on audio copyright term length
      * adopt principle of no retrospective changes to IP law
      * broader rights for libraries
      * new exception in copyright for parodies
      * "Maintain policy of not extending patent rights beyond their
        present limits within the areas of software, business methods
        and genes." - this is an important principle!!
      * Says vague things about patent quality
      * Accelerated grant process for patents
      * Says vague things about IP and competitiveness

Against:
      * Support for the community patent idea to reduce costs of IP
        litigation. COMPAT isn't a bad idea per se, but that is seen as
        a back-door route to software patents again
      * Stronger penalties associated with IP infringement? Whether this
        is actually bad depends on the implementation I suspect.
      * Lots about sending the lawyers to Africa to educate the poor
        people about TRIPS. Hooray for civilised white men.
      * ISPs making data available to rights holders to get the pirates

Unsure:
      * voluntary copyright register - UKPO gets more work to do :/
      * Investiation of DRM labelling system. Eh.
      * "Open standards" web database - I don't totally understand this
        proposal. Seems to be about patents.
      * New EU court to mediate cross-border IP infringement
      * Secondment for IP policy staff at UKPO
      * UKPO becomes UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO)

On balance, not really that much to shout about, some things to be
displeased about, but some of the principles it propounds look pretty
good.

Cheers,

Alex.