CLSG issues report detailing implementation of the Hooper report

Following last year's report by Richard Hooper and Ros Lynch entitled Copyright works. Streamlining copyright licensing for the digital age (on which see 1709 Blog post here), creative industries established a Copyright Licensing Steering Group (CLSG), to oversee the implementation of the main recommendations included therein, and ensure continued cross-border collaboration focused on further streamlining of copyright licensing.

Today the CLSG, published a report detailing the successes over the past 12 months in implementing recommendations to streamline copyright licensing. These include:

• The launch of a pilot phase of the Copyright Hub last July (on which see 1709 Blog post here);
• The publication of a Voluntary Code of Practice for creating and retaining metadata in images;
• The development of a range of initiatives to streamline the licensing landscape for educational establishments;
• The planned introduction of two new joint music licences from PPL and PRS for Music;
• New digital music licensing initiatives for start-ups and app developers;
• Progress on the adoption and inter-operability of common data standards.

James Lancaster, former Head of Rights and Business Affairs at the BBC and current Chair of the CLSG said: “This report demonstrates the real progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Hooper/Lynch report. The work over the past year has demonstrated clearly the power of all parts of the creative industries working collaboratively together with the support of Government to come up with pragmatic and workable solutions to the challenges of copyright licensing.”

Viscount Younger of Leckie, Minister for Intellectual Property, added: “The work of the Copyright Licensing Steering Group in making licensing work better - both through the creation of a Copyright Hub and by simplifying existing licensing approaches - is excellent."

Maureen Duffy, author and member of the CLSG, concluded by saying: "Once, the church and state commissioned artists to produce books, paintings and music. Then came printing, beginning the democratisation of the markets for their work, then film and radio, and now we have the digital world. But how are the creators to be paid? The [Copyright] Hub seeks to solve this by a simplified facility for licensing, putting consumers in touch with the works they want, and providing an income for the creators. Our report shows how the industries have come together to solve the problems of making piracy redundant, and assuring the future of UK creators, their music, art and literature, and their massive contribution, both cultural and economic."