Wednesday 3 February 2010

Digital Economy Bill - amendments to be discussed

Work is going on to amend parts of the Digital Economy Bill. Lord Bridgeman and Baroness Buscombe have been active in defining some terms.

Parts of the proposed ammendments are listed below (These are extracts, for full information see the original bill and its amendments in full).

They give more detail on:
  • Definition of Orphan Work
  • Where burden of proof of Orphan status should reside (the publisher)
  • Compensation to copyright holder if found
  • What a diligent search entails
  • What kind of organisation may become a licensing body

30A Orphan works

The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that acts in relation to an orphan work which would otherwise require the consent of the copyright owner may be done notwithstanding the subsistence of copyright.

A work shall become an orphan work when the copyright owner cannot be found.

The burden of proof that the copyright owner cannot be found shall be on the person who publishes the orphan work, and the burden shall be discharged by proof that a diligent search to identify and locate the copyright owner has been undertaken and has not been successful.

The work shall cease to be an orphan work when the identity and location of the copyright owner becomes known.

The copyright owner shall be compensated in an amount equal to the licence fee he would have received had he been identified at the time of publication and he shall be entitled to aggravated damages if the person who publishes the work is unable to discharge the burden of proof described in subsection (3).

Regulations under subsection (1) shall only provide for authorising a licensing body that represents a substantial number of authors or, as appropriate, performers of the type of works for which the licence is to be granted.

The regulations shall provide that no such licence may be granted unless the would-be licensee demonstrates to the licensing body that they have undertaken a diligent search for authors, performers and other holders of rights in each work for which a licence is sought, including the making of detailed enquiries to relevant institutions and rights holders in the same or similar fields.

Regulation under subsection (1) shall only provide for authorising a licensing body that represents a substantial number of authors or, as appropriate, performers of the type of works for which the licence is to be granted.

The amendments are going through the committee stage of the Lords over the next few days.