The BCC welcomes the publication of the first report of the Digital Copyright Exchange Feasibility Study and its recognition that, while there is much that still could be improved, copyright licensing processes in the UK compare well with other countries in the world. This diagnostic report has provided a real opportunity for stakeholders to engage in detailed debate about the potential for this Hargreaves Review recommendation.
The time and effort which Richard Hooper, CBE and his Secretariat have put into their open minded discussions with all parts of the creative industries is greatly appreciated by the BCC and, while not agreeing with all of its findings, we find the report to be an intelligent analysis and summary of the issues bringing common sense to the subject and achieved in a short space of time.
The BCC particularly welcomes the findings that any form of DCE must be industry-led, voluntary, should discourage copyright infringement, build on existing DCEs and DCE-like systems, and most importantly should be aware of and protect the rights of creators and recognise and protect the investment in content.
The BCC also gives its overall support to the aim to co-ordinate improvements and enhancements to licensing structures. However, while acknowledging that efficient licensing of copyright is a driver for innovation enabling SMEs (and others) to create new products and services; there does not yet appear to be much in the first report about how such licensing provides a means for supporting the creation of original works which are then used by SMEs to innovate and add to the value of the original work. Reservations also remain about the possibility that any DCE might attempt to set prices, or impose terms and conditions. The BCC also wonders whether some of the “significant problems” especially those suggested for educational institutions and archives are overstated.
The BCC looks forward to engaging with the DCE Secretariat on Phase 2 of this Feasibility Study to demonstrate further the work that right holders are both already undertaking and are planning to reduce complexity, to simplify copyright licensing processes and to consider what an effective final solution may look like. The BCC supports the application of exchanges which recognise and support diversity for the use of copyright works as an effective source of future economic growth.