Intellectual Property Law

Google backs fair use defence

By Johanna Gibson, David Pearce, Jeremy Phillips and Ilanah Simon.

The IPKat has learnt from the Guardian that Richard Sargeant, Google?s Public Policy Manager today called for the UK to have a fair use defence to copyright, similar to that in the US:

?We look with respect at the system of fair use rights that exists in the US. Europe doesn't have anything similar, which makes it much more difficult for people to see what they can and can't do."

The IPKat, stifling the urge to say ?Well he would say that, wouldn?t he?? can see the advantage of such a defence, rather than the labyrinthine defence Chapter III of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. He wonders though whether a broad fair use defence would provide enough certainty for all players.

Full post as published by IPKat on January 22, 2009 (boomark / email).