UK digital copyright laws are to be relaxed under government proposals. Up to this point it has been illegal to download a legally purchased CD onto a laptop or MP3 player – a little-known fact for millions of British consumers. The new laws, which will legalise transferring digital copies of music, films, eBooks and games from one device to another for personal use, will bring the law ‘into line with ordinary people’s reasonable expectations,’ according to business secretary Vince Cable. The law will still, however, prohibit sharing digital copies with others.

‘We feel we have struck the right balance between improving the way consumers benefit from copyright works they have legitimately paid for, boosting business opportunities and protecting the rights of creators,’ said Cable.

Yet some musicians and songwriters have expressed reservations about the proposals. The Musicians' Union and British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors have pointed out that other European countries with a similar law have also instated a tax on copying items, such as blank CDs and media players, to compensate creators. The government maintains, nevertheless, that the change will have a ‘minimal impact on sales’.