UK Government Initiates Copyright Law Consultation

In early 2024, the UK embarked on a pivotal consultation to potentially revise its copyright laws, particularly focusing on the rights associated with foreign sound recordings and performances. This initiative, led by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), aimed to align UK copyright law with international treaties more effectively.

Current Legal Landscape: The UK's existing copyright framework currently offers differing levels of protection for recordings and performances. Recordings can qualify for remuneration if first published in the UK or a qualifying country, or if the producer is a national or resident of such countries. Performances, however, only receive protection if carried out in a qualifying country or by an artist from such country – one that signed the Rome Convention, like the UK.

The Government’s Decision: After reviewing industry feedback and assessing economic impacts, the UK government has now decided to leave the current situation intact and additionally extend protection of performances by non-Rome Convention nationals insofar recordings of their performances were made by producers from the UK or Rome Convention countries.

The decision is expected to have little impact on industry revenue leaving the UK. 

The government expects to implement the change in December 2024 via secondary legislation under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.