Copyright for Museums, Archives & Libraries
Review
Robert Burrell and Allison Coleman: Copyright Exceptions: The Digital Impact, published by Cambridge University Press (2005)
Reviewed by Ian Walden in COMPTLR 2005, 11(6), 202
"[T]he book is very well written and makes an informed, interesting and valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of copyright law in a digitised information economy..."
"While the scope and coverage of this book is broad and detailed, the central thesis is surprisingly modest..... [T]he authors touch on most aspects of copyright law that have arisen in recent debates concerning the impact of the digital revolution, as manifest particularly in the context of the internet. However, the authors' aim is to establish a manifesto for reform of the copyright system in the United Kingdom, while ensuring that the United Kingdom remains compliant with both European Union law and our international obligations, from Berne to TRIPs. As a result, the book manages to be both radical and conservative in its approach. Its radicalism lies in its determination to champion user interests over those of rights-holders, siding with the dominant trend in the academic community of IP scholars that view the current regime as too much in favour of, and a legislative process captured by, the narrow interests of rights-holders, particularly the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and content industries. The book's conservatism is best summed up by the authors' statement that any reform of the current copyright regime should "be judged against the disruption they create"
