Digital Copyright and the Consumer Revolution—Hands off my iPod

This book brings a global perspective to the parochial copyright debate. Dr Rimmer at the Australian National University College of Law, writes a readable account of the growing consumer revolution against digital copyright law setting out many of the historic arguments which would appear to have been forgotten by the UK IP Bar. Expanding copyright protection driven by political fixes within the EU and US are contrasted with Canada whose parliament threw out similar measures. “Mash-ups” created by digital sampling and mixing of existing works have had to deal with the chilling effect of music industry lawyers trying to strangle this creative industry at birth. The implications of the Pirate Bay case are fully aired—now even more relevant in the light of the Pirate Party in Sweden getting a seat in the European Parliament.

Reviewed by: Alistair Kelman, barrister & forsensic scientist. Longer reviews are available at www.alikelman.com

Digital Copyright and the Consumer Revolution—Hands off my iPod