Yesterday morning, I chaired a public meeting of the Copyright Review Committee (#CRC11). The Committee was set up in May to identify solutions for any aspects of the current copyright legislation that create barriers to innovation, and in particular to consider whether a US-style ‘fair use’ doctrine to see if it would be appropriate in an Irish or EU context. Today, I read a provocative criticism of the event by photographer Dominic Lee:

© Copyright Act Review by Dominic Lee

… While this was a “Review”, it quickly became clear to me that the committee’s agenda is to attempt to introduce “Fair Use” to the Copyright Act 2000. However, the term “Don’t Want to Pay” is more appropriate in each and every aspect of those in favour of this change.

… Media publications would never dream of publishing a painting by Graham Knuttel or an extract from a Maeve Binchy book without asking their permission first but many of them have no problem riding rough-shot over Photographers work because they know there is a very slim chance that we could afford to sue for breach of Copyright. … Photographers make a living by selling photographs and deserve to be treated with the same respect as musicians, artists, and writers.

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In an anncoucement that I have heard at many sporting occasions, there is one change to the team as listed in the programme. In this context, we have one change for the Copyright Review Committee public meeting at 8:30 next Monday morning, 04 July 2011, in the Robert Emmet Lecture Theatre, Room 2037 Arts Block, Trinity College Dublin (map here). Darragh Doyle won’t be able to give his presentation, but we are delighted to announce that David Cochrane, founder and editor of leading current affairs website Politics.ie will take his place on the team-sheet. I will chair, and the other speakers will be Brian Fallon, co-founder of Distilled Media, and TJ McIntyre, Chairman of Digital Rights Ireland. Speaking about the announcement of the public meeting, the Minister for Research & Innovation, Seán Sherlock said:

it is important that we get a clear understanding of the effects of copyright policy, and in particular the economic effects of possible changes to existing copyright law. It is for this reason I feel it is necessary to consult with as wide a range of stakeholders as possible.

In my view, this public meeting is a key element of the Committee’s fact-finding, and I would encourage all those with a strong interest in Ireland’s copyright legislation to attend and air their views.…

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The Copyright Review Committee will hold a public meeting at 8:30 next Monday morning, 04 July 2011, in the Robert Emmet Lecture Theatre, Room 2037 Arts Block, Trinity College Dublin (map here).

I will chair, and the other members of the Committee will be in attendance. We will all be in listening mode, so we hope to hear many contributions from as wide a range of interests as possible. Our speakers are

• Brian Fallon, co-founder of Distilled Media, Ireland’s largest exclusively online publisher. They operare some of Ireland’s most popular internet brands including thejournal.ie (a news website where users read, share and shape the daily news agenda) daft.ie (Ireland’s largest property website) and Adverts.ie (a local classifieds marketplace for new and used items).
• Darragh Doyle, Communications Manager of Boards.ie, Ireland’s largest online community.
• TJ McIntyre, Chairman, Digital Rights Ireland, a body devoted to defending Civil, Human and Legal rights in a digital age.

The speakers will have about 5 minutes each to explain how copyright helps or hinders them, and what impact the Committee’s terms of reference will have on them, as a way of leading to comments from the floor. In many ways, the points made, difficulties raised, and ideas floated at the discussion are most important aspect of the morning.…

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Last month, to maximise the potential of digital industry in Ireland, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., set up a Copyright Review Committee to identify any areas of Irish copyright legislation that might create barriers to innovation and to make recommendations to resolve any problems identified. The Committee consists of yours truly (TCD), Prof Steve Hedley (UCC), and Ms Patricia McGovern (DFMG Solicitors). Our review is similar to, but more limited than, Digital Opportunity, the review of intellectual property law and economic growth conducted by Prof Ian Hargreaves for the UK’s Intellectual Property Office. Rather than looking at the full range of intellectual property issues that Hargreaves did, our terms of reference have a much tighter focus on copyright and innovation; we have been asked to

• examine the present national copyright legislation (also here) and identify any areas that are perceived to create barriers to innovation,
• identify solutions for removing these barriers and make recommendations as to how these solutions might be implemented through changes to national legislation,
• examine the US style ‘fair use’ doctrine to see if it would be appropriate in an Irish/EU context, and
• if necessary, make recommendations for changes to EU Directives.

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