A copyright balance? An overview for librarians of current UK copyright law

This article aims at providing librarians with an overview of the current copyright position within the UK. I begin by examining the copyright regime set up by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988. I then assess the impact of several key EU Directives and implementing UK Statutory Instruments on the working of this regime, and in particular discuss the implications of the new rights for owners of digital material. Finally I analyse some current UK copyright “hot topics” which are of equal concern and significance to users in other jurisdictions, and suggest some possible solutions.