Copying your CDs and DVDs is now illegal again | Tech | Technology & Gaming

“[The new law] will mean that the UK IP regime will now be responsive to the modern business environment and more flexible for consumers”, explained Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for Intellectual Property, last October.

When the original changes were enforced a year ago, the Intellectual Property Office said it brought the UK’s IP law into the 21st century, speaking at the time.

Organisations including The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors had objected to laws allowing ripping CDs for personal use.

The High Court has overturned a law introduced by the Government in October 2014 which made it legal to transfer music into your home library, be it on an MP3, computer or other devices.

In the wake of a challenge from the music industry, the UK’s High Court has overturned regulation that allowed format shifting (such as ripping CDs and DVDs) for the sake of personal use.

The decision does not include joke or parody versions of hit songs.

Mash-ups by the likes of Cassetteboy will also be affected by the changes.

Of course, no one’s going pay any attention to this ruling, seeing as how we all backed up our physical CDs long ago and pretty much never buy them anymore except as a token gesture when we want to support a friends’ band.

“We therefore welcome the court’s decision today to quash the existing regulations”. My members’ music defines this country.

The Musicians’ Union also took part in the action.

But a judge has ruled that the government was wrong legally when it decided not to introduce a compensation scheme for songwriters, musicians and other rights holders who face losses as a result of their copyright being infringed.