KPMG’s Digital Media Specialist, Mark Harding comments on today’s announcement by Business Secretary Vince Cable to scrap plans to block websites that host copyright infringing material:
“The government’s proposal to scrap the UK’s out of date ‘CD ripping’ laws is a progressive move in the right direction. However, change in legislation will make very little difference to consumers of digital music who have effectively been breaking the law each time they ‘rip’ a CD they have bought. This change is more significant to the future development of digital content in the UK. Consequently, new business models and consumption offerings centred on cloud computing technology such as ‘digital lockers’ will all benefit from this change. Once in place, this law will align Britain with many of its European counterparts allowing businesses and consumers to work within competitive guidelines. There’s no doubt that the government needs to strike a balance between content privacy/ownership and freedom to format.”
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KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and operates from 22 offices across the UK with nearly 11,000 partners and staff. The UK firm recorded a turnover of £1.6 billion in the year ended September 2010. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We operate in 150 countries and have more than 138,000 professionals working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. KPMG International provides no client services.
