Ripping CDs and DVDs to a personal music library has been outlawed after the surprising reversal of a 9 month old law which allowed it. A High Court judge has ruled against the legislation change introduced in October 2014 which permitted consumers to copy the digital content from CDs they had purchased to their personal libraries and mobile devices.
The decision was reached after a group of music industry organisations comprising of UK Music, the Musicians’ Union, and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) challenged the law.
The CEO of UK Music, a music lobbying group, praised the overturning of the law:
‘Last month, the High Court agreed with us that Government acted unlawfully when it introduced an exception to copyright for private copying without fair compensation. We therefore welcome the Courts decision today to quash the existing regulations. It is vitally important that fairness for songwriters, composers and performers is written into the law.  My membersâ music defines this country.  It is only right that Government gives us the standard of legislation our music deserves. We want to work with Government so this can be achieved.’
The new legal ruling effects CDs, DVDs, eBooks and any other medium subject to copyright that can be digitally duplicated.
However this is certainly a hollow victory for the organisations fighting for the courts’ U-turn as, just like before, it is extremely unlikely any cases involving the duplication of digital products will be pursued. The government has said it is ‘considering the implications of the court rulings and the available options’.
It is considered far too time consuming and costly to prosecute those who copy music to their personal libraries.
