Following consultation over the recommendations made by Professor Hargreaves, the Government is poised to introduce a number of the measures mentioned in his Review. Its aim in making these changes is to adapt our "strong but rigid framework for copyright into one that is modern, robust and flexible".

Whilst the intention had originally been that they would become law in October 2013, the latest understanding from the Intellectual Property Office is that they will hit the statute book on 6 June 2014.

  1. The changes include expanding the fair dealing defences for:
  2. Private copying;
  3. Quotations;
  4. Parody, caricature and pastiche; and
  5. Data analytics.

A number of other changes are to be introduced including: extending the research and private study exception to cover all types of copyright work; a simplified copyright licensing regime for the education sector; a right for museums, galleries, libraries and archives to preserve copyright works; and a broadening of the existing exceptions applying to public administration.

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