Copyright review - Not another Wild West

The publication this week of a report recommending an overhaul of Ireland’s copyright laws is to be welcomed. However, less welcome is the response of Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton.

Among the key recommendations of the Copyright Review Committee is the establishment of a council to ensure the integrity of copyright while protecting freedom of expression.

The committee has sought to strike a fair balance between the rights of the owners of intellectual property and the digital industry. However, Mr Bruton appears to view the report as a signal to promote light regulation of a commercial sector that already flouts copyright daily, stating “we commissioned this report to look at possible barriers to innovation in this sector and measures we could take to remove them”.

The minister should be mindful of the tens of thousands already employed in the arts as well as the music, movie and media sectors — all of which are vulnerable to illegal downloads on the internet.

Considering the problems caused by light regulation of our banks, the last thing we need is another Wild West industry.

Perhaps Mr Bruton might care to clarify his position on the matter.