21 June 2013

Copyright Licensing Steering Group meetings are ongoing with a July deadline for presentation to Government. Gwen Thomas represents photography on this group, AOP President Simon Leach and photographer member Paul Ellis are on two of the work streams which report back to it, with a remit to ensure there are practical solutions to minimise the problems expected with new legislation such as Orphan Works.

The IPO's working group on shaping legislation for Orphans Works and Extended Collective Licensing meets monthly, with Gwen Thomas and Paul Ellis representing photographers. The group is currently investigating a way of charging for the licensing of works which will be deemed 'orphaned' under the expected legislation. Draft legislation will not be published until this group has finished its work.

Draft legislation is imminent for the new copyright exceptions, proposed by Hargreaves, on private copying, parody and pastiche and long distance learning. Work will begin in the office, analysing the draft and its implications for photographers and requesting changes where necessary as soon as it is published.