Ripping CDs and Backing Up Content Is Illegal in the UK
Ernesto Van der Sar (via Nick Heer):
The High Court recently overturned private copying exceptions introduced last year by the UK Government, once again outlawing the habits of millions of citizens. The Intellectual Property Office today explains that ripping a CD in iTunes is no longer permitted, and neither is backing up your computer if it contains copyrighted content.
[…]
The IPO specifically notes that copying a CD to an MP3 player is not permitted. This means that iTunes’ popular ripping feature, which Apple actively promotes during the software’s installation, is illegal.
Also, under the current law iTunes is actively facilitating copyright infringement by promoting their CD-ripping functionality. This means that the company could face significant claims for damages.
But the British government is apparently not thrilled with the High Court’s decision. The IPO office told TorrentFreak that the government is “carefully considering the implications of the ruling and the available options before deciding any future course of action.”
And if you live in the UK and have copies of your music library on your computer like a normal human, don’t fret too much. Apparently the government is pretty sure that no one has been taken to court over CD-ripping for personal use.
