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Copying music from a CD to a home computer could be made legal under new proposals from the UK government.
via BBC
Millions of people already "rip" discs to theircomputers and move the files to MP3 players, although the process istechnically against copyright law.
Intellectual property minister Lord Triesman said the law should be changed so it "keeps up with the times".
Music industry bodies gave a cautious welcome to the proposals, which are up for public consultation until 8 April.<!-- E SF -->
The changes would apply only to people copying music forpersonal use - meaning multiple copying and internet file-sharing wouldstill be banned.
Owners would not be allowed to sell or give away their original discs once they had made a copy.
Sales concerns "To allow consumers to copy works and then pass on the original could result in a loss of sales," the proposals warn.
UK music industry body the BPI said it supported themove to clarify the law for consumers, but warned that any changesshould not damage the rights of record companies.
The Association of Independent Music (Aim) said theproposals did not go far enough - pointing out that CDs could becomeobsolete in the next decade.
It said that, once CDs are replaced, the law could bemisused to "open the floodgates to unstoppable copying", adding that itwould like to see copyright holders compensated when music was copied.
Lord Triesman said the proposed changes would explore"where the boundaries lie between strong protection for right holdersand appropriate levels of access for users".
The proposals also suggest schools and libraries shouldbe given greater flexibility in how they use copyrighted material likeCDs and DVDs, and suggests parodies of songs and films could be madeexempt from copyright law.
The consultation follows the Gowers Review ofIntellectual Property, which recommended that aspects of theintellectual property system should be reformed.<!-- E BO -->