PPA consultation responses and evidence from July 2007 are listed below in chronological order. For further information about these documents or older consultations please contact PPA Legal Director David Hyams.
May 2010
PPA has outlined to Ofcom its opposition to proposals for a flat-rate regulatory fee for providers of video-on-demand (VOD) services.
Mar 2010
PPA has given its support to proposals from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to extend certain copyright exceptions. The plans are outlined in a second stage IPO consultation, which was prompted by the Government as part of the implementation of recommendations from the Gowers Review in 2006.
Click here for the consultation document.
Click here for PPA's response to the first stage consultation in 2008.
Mar 2010
PPA has underlined the importance of protecting content creators’ intellectual property in response to a Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation. The review is considering the extension of legal obligations that require publishers to provide copies of published print publications to the British Library and other deposit libraries for preservation purposes to digital publications.
Feb 2010
The PPA has welcomed a decision by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to limit uplift fees in ‘no win, no fee’ defamation actions. The ruling by Justice Secretary Jack Straw follows a consultation on the issue. The PPA response is available above and the Media Lawyers Association's response is available here.
Jan 2010
PPA responded to the DCMS consultation highlighting that libraries should not be operating services in competition with, or in substitution for, those provided by publishers in the online world. If libraries are to become the route to "finding" a digital edition it is vital that they are not able to provide access on a "free" basis or basis which unfairly competes with publishers, certainly in the case of remote access to the library.
Jan 2010
PPA has reiterated the importance of protecting the copyright of magazine and business media publishers' online operations in response to a recent European Commission reflection document. While the EC consultation on creative content online is designed to encourage the growth of vibrant online markets for goods and services protected by intellectual property rights, PPA is concerned that proposals, such as further harmonisation of copyright laws, could result in publishers having less control over how they monetise their content.
Jan 2010
PPA contributed to a cross-industry submission to this consultation, joining with other leading press associations to reject proposals for custodial sentences for breaches of section 55 of the Data Protection Act. PPA said the risk to press freedom coupled with the fact that prosecutions for breaches of section 55 are decreasing means that the introduction of prison sentences would be disproportionate and unjustified.
Jan 2010
PPA responded to the review to highlight the magazine industry's commitment to effective self-regulation through the Editors Code of Practice and the jurisdiction of the independent PCC.
Jan 2010
PPA responded to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consultation on Objecting to a Registered Office under the Companies Act 2006. PPA focused on the associated problem of rogue companies using names confusingly similar to well known companies (including several magazine publishers) in order to commit fraud. PPA has highlighted this problem to BIS on a number of occasions, but as yet no action has been taken.
Dec 2009
In October 2009, the Office of Fair Trading launched studies into the online targeting of advertising and pricing. The studies cover behavioural advertising and customised pricing, where prices are individually tailored using information collected about a consumer's internet use. In its response, PPA maintained that online behavioural advertising is important for publishers to be able to serve relevant advertising to consumers and is an important factor in the generation of revenues that support quality online content and services.
Dec 2009
PPA responded to the Government's consultation on the "multiple publication rule" - where each new publication of an allegedly defamatory article gives rise to a fresh cause of action. PPA called for a "single publication rule" which would mean that the time period within which an action for defamation must be commenced would be linked to the first time the defamatory item was published, distributed or accessed - and would not start a fresh with each distribution or access.
Dec 2009
PPA responded to the European Commission (EC) consultation on the legal framework governing the protection of personal data in light of developments in technology and the trend towards globalisation. PPA expressed the view that the existing framework was appropriate to protect individuals and businesses, and that the EC should focus any activity on ensuring regulatory harmonisation, improving enforcement and educating consumers.
31st Oct 2009
PPA responded to the Ofcom consultation concerning the regulation of video on demand (VOD) services - expressing concern that audiovisual material on magazine and business publisher’s websites may be caught by new regulations, despite this not being the intention of the underlying European legislation, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS). AVMS must be implemented by the government by the 19 December 2009. It is important for members to be aware of the new law as it requires VOD providers to register with a new co-regulator and pay a fee. Guidance on the scope of VOD services caught by the new law (which forms part of the current consultation) is due to be published.
The original consultation (September 2009)
30th Sept 2009
Following calls by certain creators, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is looking into the issue of moral rights – ie the right of a journalist or photographer (or similar) to be identified as the creator; and the right of that creator not to have his/her work treated in a derogatory way. Currently, creators have to assert their moral rights, but there are calls to make moral rights apply automatically. PPA responded to an IPO consultation to point out that a change to the system could result in significant practical and administrative burdens for magazine and business media publishers.
29th Sept 2009
The issue of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing and online copyright infringement has regularly been in the news over the past couple of years. Headlines have been dominated by claims that individuals will have their internet access ‘cut off’ – and the music and film industries have clearly been the most vocal in this debate (as they have suffered the most damage). However, the issue of illicit sharing of copyright content online is one that is increasingly affecting magazine publishers. PPA responded to the BIS consultation above to stress that technical measures are a legitimate and proportionate way to tackle repeat infringers who ignore warning letters – and that account suspension must remain a possibility in the most extreme circumstances (subject to suitable safeguards), as P2P file-sharing is an increasing threat to PPA members who are developing sophisticated content access models.
Other relevant documents:
13 Aug 2009
BIS has published a document setting out the various projects and measures that make up delivery of the actions set out in the Digital Britain report.
03 Aug 2009
EACA, ENPA, FAEP, EPC, FEDMA, IAB Europe and WFA joint response to DG Sanco’s non-paper on consumer related aspects of behavioural advertising of 5 March 2009.
06 Jul 2009
PPA response to the list of questions asked by the Conservative Party's Creative Industries Review Group. The consultation questions are contained in the response document.
30 June 2009
PPA supported the Confederation for British Industry’s response to the IPO Copyright Tribunal Consultation.
18 Jun 2009
PPA has summarised the main areas of the Digital Britain report that affect magazine publishers, namely orphan works, peer-to-peer file sharing, matched penalties for IP infringement, the proposed 'digital test bed' and education.
02 Jun 2009
PPA response to SABIP's 'Strategic Priorities for Copyright'
27 May 2009
PPA response to All Party Parliamentary Group on Communications Inquiry 'Can We Keep Our Hands Off the Net?', 22 May 2009. The consultation questions are contained in the response document.
31 Mar 2009
PPA response to the Office of Fair Trading Review of the Local and Regional Media Merger Regime.
Additional relevant documents:
Digital Britain
12 Mar 2009
PPA response to Lord Carter’s proposals to safeguard and promote Britain’s digital knowledge economy.
PPA contributed to the Publishers’ Content Forum response to the Digital Britain 'What Role for a Digital Rights Agency'. View the consultation document here.
Copyright Licensing Agency response
Additional relevant documents:
23 Feb 2009
PPA responded to the UK Intellectual Property Office consultation paper 'Copyright the Future: Developing a Copyright Agenda for the 21st Century'.
06 Feb 2009
PPA responded to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) consultation the Proposed EU Consumer Rights Directive.
Additional relevant documents:
14 Jan 2009
PPA submitted a joint response to the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into Press Standards, Privacy and Libel on behalf of the Press Standards Board of Finance Limited, Newspaper Publishers Association, Newspaper Society, Periodical Publishers Association, Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association.
06 Jan 2009
PPA responded to the Treasury Select Committee Inquiry into the Banking Crisis.
Further information on the Treasury Select Committee Inquiry is available here.
28 Nov 2008
PPA response to the European Commission Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy.
31 Oct 2008
PPA response to the first part of a two stage consultation process on the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive 2007/65/EC into UK Law, held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
31 Oct 2008
PPA response to the UK Intellectual Property Office consultation paper Taking Forward the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property - Penalties for Copyright Infringement.
29 Oct 2008
PPA response to the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Consultation on Legislative Options to Address Illicit Peer-To-Peer File-sharing.
15 Sep 2008
PPA response to Sir Bob Phillis' Independent Review of Government Communications presented to the Minister for the Cabinet Office January 2004.
20 Jun 2008
PPA letter responding to the Office of Fair Trading draft guidance consultation on 'Mergers - jurisdictional and procedural guidance'.
07 Apr 2008
PPA responded to the UK Intellectual Property Office consultation on 'Proposed Changes to Copyright Exceptions'.
29 Feb 2008
PPA responded to the Commission’s Communication on 'Creative Content Online in the Single Market'.
29 Feb 2008
In addition to its own submission, PPA provided input to the European Federation of Magazine Publishers' (FAEP) submission.
27 Feb 2008
PPA submitted a joint response with the Newspaper Publishers Association, the Newspaper Society, the Society of Editors, the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and ITN to the independent '30 Year Rule' consultation.
More information is available here. The Final Report document is available here.
15 Feb 2008
Joint response from PPA, the Newspaper Publishers Association, the Newspaper Society, the Society of Editors, the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society and ITN to the Ministry of Justice Data Sharing Review consultation.
30 Jan 2008
Joint response from PPA and AOP to the DCMS inquiry into Harmful Content on the Internet and in Video Games.
30 Nov 2007
This response gives the opinion of PPA members for industry matters and also uses the results of informal research undertaken by a group of 6th form students of their peers’ (aged 12-15) on attitudes to media use to provide some background to its submission. The students will be making a separate submission to the ‘children and young people’s’ version of this consultation.
The full report of the Byron review is available here.
28 Aug 2007
The European Federation of Magazine Publishers (FAEP) wrote to express concern over potential restrictions on advertising cars.
16 Jul 2007
The Government decided to issue a supplementary consultation on proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act. PPA's position remains unchanged, in that changes are unnecessary.