IP Rights, Format Shifting IP Rights, Format Shifting and Digitisationand Digitisation

2 September 2010

Liam McMonagleIP Technology & Media

Thorntons Law LLP

OutlineOutline

Extent of Format Protection Format Shifting and the Law:

different approaches Volume Digitisation Projects Current Developments

Extent of Format Extent of Format ProtectionProtectionWhat’s protected? Subject matter of copyright Technological changes – anyone

remember cable programmes? Are we future proofed yet? Virtual or market-constructed IP

Format Protection and Format Protection and OriginalityOriginality

Originality requirement for certain types of copyright works

Qualitative requirements for labour, skill and judgment

Transcriptions Spoken to written Paper to digital

Format shifting and originality

Format ShiftingFormat Shifting

The old and the new How much “shifting” is going

on? Creation of related and

derivative works CD’s, music and ebooks,

computer games Diverse approaches in different

legal systems

Volume Digitisation (1)Volume Digitisation (1)

British Library digitisation project (4 – 40 million newspaper pages)

Scale of digitisation (2m pages/ year) Range of material (age, subject matter,

ownership) – much dating from 19th Century

Generation of related works to enable searching and use of material on volume scale

Volume Digitisation (2)Volume Digitisation (2)

Legal Issues Copyright status of old materials Legal and practical due diligence Publisher rights and clearances Content liabilities (IP/ defamation claims) Editorial/ brand sensitivities Risk management and mitigation – pro-

active or reactive approach?

Recent Developments Recent Developments (Inactivity?)(Inactivity?)

2006 Gowers Review Jan 2008 UK Intellectual

Property Office Consultation June 2009 Digital Britain

Report Digital Economy Act 2010 Sector-driven change

Questions and DiscussionQuestions and Discussion

Liam McMonagle, AssociateIP Technology & Media

Thorntons Law LLP

www.thorntons-law.co.uklmcmonagle@thorntons-law.co.uk