HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 c978W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the likely effects of the EU Copyright Directive in terms of(a) the ownership of intellectual property and (b) access to information. [76957]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The EU Copyright Directive does not require us to make any changes that will affect the ownership of intellectual property. Moreover, copyright does not protect information as such. Where information is contained in a copyright protected work, then implementation of the Directive in the UK will not make any change of substance to the copyright owner's existing right to control if and how that work is made available to the public by any means.

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the implementation of the EU Copyright Directive (2001/298/EC) (2); and if she will make a statement. [76956]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The consultation on implementation of the EU Copyright Directive has a closing date of 31 October. We will be considering all responses very carefully as we take forward work on implementation.