Industry ready to roll the DCE

The UK industry has responded positively to recent recommendations regarding a Digital Copyright Exchange (DCE) made by Richard Hooper as a result of the Hargreaves report.

This would act as a ‘copyright hub’ in which the PRS and PPL would work together to simplify licensing processes, potentially enabling licensees to obtain rights online in a single transaction.

Richard Hooper said: "If the UK is to maintain and improve its position as world leader in the creative industries then it needs an efficient and responsive copyright licensing system to manage the use of creative rights”.

Hooper continued: "Setting up an industry-led and industry-funded Copyright Hub will help maximise the potential for creators and rights owners on the supply side and the wide range of licensees and users on the demand side."

UK Music Chief Executive Jo Dipple led the industry response yesterday saying: “The front-footedness of the British music industry has been rightly recognised in Richard’s report. Our industry has shown great leadership in enabling the digital market place. But there is work to be done and UK Music has tasked itself to give the Secretary of State an annual update on the proposals. It is very important that we work together to maintain the momentum this process has created. We look forward to hearing Government’s response to specific proposals.”

You can read the full report here, though take it from us that it basically follows on from Hargreaves in suggesting that the DCE would link existing private and public sector rights registries and other copyright-related databases, forming both a Global Repertoire Database and Global Recording Database to counteract the complexity of licensing in the UK, which was previously reported here.

Chief Executive of PRS for Music Robert Ashcroft added: “We both welcome and support Richard Hooper's findings and will work with our partners in the industry to meet the challenges he identifies, providing a better licensing environment for all”.