Copyright Ombudsman

28 January, 2008

SCONUL's idea for a 'Copyright Ombudsman' was discussed at a hearing of the UK Parliament's skills select committee on 28 January. Phil Willis MP, Chair of the Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee raised the idea as part of an inquiry into the work of the Copyright Tribunal. Attributing it to SCONUL's written evidence, Mr Willis suggested that an ombudsman might speed up the handling of copyright disputes. SCONUL agrees that the Tribunal is an expensive mechanism for solving problems and that non-commercial bodies would benefit from a simpler way of challenging perceived injustices in copyright licences. SCONUL's Secretary attended the Committee session alongside the Chair of the Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance.

A full transcript of the hearing can be found at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmdius/uc245-i/uc24502.htm