An evidence based approach to copyright – and its value to UK plc.

Last year, the NLA joined a group of licensing agencies and publishers to support the  Stationers’ Company initiative to fund a position at The Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL) for a three year research studentship.  The purpose of the position is to study the broader commercial implications of copyright and intellectual property for the publishing industry in the digital age.

Aislinn O’Connell, a Master’s student in international business law was picked for the post and started on the project this week.  She aims to work closely with the UK copyright community to understand the economic and commercial evidence and legal arguments surrounding copyright and the creative economy. 

There is a growing body of evidence, including this study recently published by the IPO, that copyright not only underpins the future of UK based creative industries, but contributes billions to the economy. However, this is a fast moving area and there is certainly more that can be done to examine linkages between copyright and IP, the creative economy and the balance sheet of UK plc.  Such evidence is critical to the Government in making an informed decision on any future changes to the current copyright regime.

This was well put by Trevor Fenwick, managing director of Euromonitor, who conceived the project and leads the Stationers’ Copyright Group: “Whenever we submit arguments that the 300 year old right to intellectual property which is copyright still underpins the future of all the creative industries we are asked ‘where’s your evidence’?  The appointment of a three-year research post at UCL is intended to address this, particularly from a publishing perspective.”

The NLA is pleased to be able to support this valuable research project alongside the Publishers Licensing Society, Copyright Licensing Agency, Pearson and Euromonitor.

David Pugh

Managing Director, NLA