Easing manufactured goods back into full artistic copyright: call for evidence

"Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's back to full-
blooded artistic copyright we go!"

The British Government wants your help: the UK Intellectual Property Office currently carries this request for evidence.  The chances are that, if you're interested in the removal of this particular limitation on artistic copyright, you've probably offered the government a couple of thoughts already -- but if you haven't made up your mind yet there's an attractive 36-page document which lists and explains the 13 questions in response to which your answers may be valued.  

Call for Evidence: Transitional provisions for repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Reference: 2013-008

Launch date: 16 October 2013

Closing date: [23:59 pm on] 27 November 2013

The creative industries are a vital part of the economy and the UK Government continues to be a strong advocate for promoting innovation in the creative and design industries. The Government plays a part in this by ensuring that copyright both incentivises the creation of work and protects original material and the creator or owner of this material.

Protecting original artistic works through copyright is one way to incentivise innovation in design. The Government has taken the power to repeal section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 which reduces the term of copyright protection for artistic works which are produced through an industrial process.

The Government will set a date for this change in law after public consultation. As a first step, the Government has therefore published a Call for Evidence to hear views on how and when the change in law should take place, and the reasons for these views. A short formal consultation will follow.

This Call for Evidence is aimed at all interested parties across all sectors including design, manufacturing, retail, import, publishing, teaching and digital.

Call for Evidence: Transitional provisions for repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 here

The IPO states that it would prefer electronic submissions be emailed to Section52CDPA@ipo.gov.uk 

Thanks are due to James Love (James Love Legal) for drawing this to my attention