Copyright Infringement. Or is it.....?

On 1 October 2014, UK copyright law changed. The change of law now means that certain specified acts will now not infringe copyright. This may be good or bad news for you.

You can now copy work without infringing its copyright if you copy it:

• for private, non-commercial use (e.g. back up copies or format-shifting, such as copying a CD to a digital form) if the original work was purchased for private use;
• by way of quotation provided the work has been made public. The quotation must nonetheless be fair and reasonable and must acknowledge the copyright owner;
• for educational purposes (e.g. use by teachers in distance learning);
• by way of caricature, parody or pastiche provided that such use is fair and proportionate.

This change to UK copyright law is likely to affect a wide range of individuals and businesses alike.

If you think that you may be affected, or if you have any questions about these changes, please contact Alex Craig on 0191 211 7911 or Gill Hunter on 0191 211 7944.