Copyright/Any non-US lawyers here? (sort of OT)

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 9539

I know we have a couple of US lawyers active in this group (Penny and Heidi), but I was wondering if there are any UK or other non-US lawyers among our 700+ [gasp] membership, who might advise us on the legal matters outside the US?

I know Nick Mitchell has some direct experience with Warner Brothers over website domain names.  My own, limited experience relates to library photocopying and copyright clearance on published research, and the fact that, independently of that, I was almost sued for a trademark infringement a  few years ago (it was an odd case;  I won't bore you with the details).  I also have several friends working for the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society/Performing Rights Society, so I have indirect knowledge of music copyright and licensing.

>From those experiences, I get the impression that the UK is by no means slack on copyright issues, but I know that there are loopholes when it comes to new technology.  Re electronic versions of books and the storage thereof, I would imagine that everything Penny and Heidi have said about the US legal position would also apply in the UK (especially as, in the case in question, JKR is a UK citizen), but I'd be interested to hear from an expert.

Also (and Heidi may know the answer to this), from US perspective, is the location of a website important in identifying a breach of the law?  For example, if information were stored at a xxxx.co.uk location, could US law be brought to bear?  How far do an author's rights extend in terms of something like the internet?  

Feel free to e-mail me offlist on this.  Thanks.

Neil

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