The Copyright Directive was implemented in the UK on 31 October 2003. The resulting changes to UK law have affected the basic rights relevant to uses of copyright material, namely the rights of reproduction and electronic communication to the public, such as digital broadcasting and 'on-demand' services. The type and scope of permitted exceptions to these rights has been limited. In addition, legal protection is now available for technological measures used to safeguard rights and copyright material, such as copy protection systems and digital watermarks.

The UK implementation of this EU Directive affects:

• Publishers
• Authors and performers
• Record and film producers
• Broadcasting organisations and cable operators
• Online service providers and network providers
• Hardware, software and technological protection system suppliers
• Libraries, educational and research establishments

Written by acknowledged experts in the field, The Copyright Directive: UK Implementation examines the implications of the Copyright Directive for the UK, together with its compliance with existing international instruments and various issues relating to the conflict of laws.

Trevor Cook and Lorna Brazell, Partners, Bird & Bird
Simon Chalton, Solicitor and Consultant, Bird & Bird
Calum Smyth, Solicitor, Bird & Bird

• The background to the Copyright Directive and an historical perspective
• Development, Scope and Provisions of Directive
• The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003
• International Issues
• Residual and Emerging Concerns 

Appendices 

• Directive 2001/29/EC Of The European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonization of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
• Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 showing sections amended by Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003
• Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003, SI 2003/2498, Part 3
• Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works, Arts 1-20 (as amended)
• Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPs Agreement), Arts 1-21, 39, 40-50
• WIPO Copyright Treaty and Agreed Statements
• WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty and Agreed Statements
• E-Commerce Directive, Arts 12-15

"well written and easy to follow ... a most useful handbook for practitioners in this area"
Solicitors Journal

"As one would expect from a team of authors at Bird & Bird, the commentary is detailed and difficult issues are highlighted ... The authors are to be commended for producing such an authoritative guide ... Anyone who takes their copyright law seriously will find this work invaluable reading"
Entertainment Law Review

"provides a short, competent and largely dispassionate account of the Directive, its impact on UK law, and their collective place within the existing regional and international framework of copyright laws ... a useful guide for those struggling with the intricacies of what is becoming an increasingly complex area of law"
European Intellectual Property Review