Ripping CDS is now illegal again, says UK High Court

The UK High Court has declared it illegal to rip CDS and DVDS just nine months after Government legislation made it legal (providing it was for personal use only).

It means you can’t copy a CD you’ve bought in order to have a backup or to play its tracks on more than one device, for example. Copying Blu-rays, MP3S and ebooks has also been made illegal again.

The decision followed a legal challenge from Basca, the Musicians’ Union, and lobbying group UK Music. The High Court said that the Government was wrong not to introduce a compensation scheme for songwriters, musicians and other rights holders who face losses as a result of their copyright being infringed. Campaigners against the law claimed that it would cost musicians £58m in lost earnings.

Jo Dipple, CEO of UK Music, welcomed the ruling. She told the BBC: “The High Court agreed with us that the Government acted unlawfully when it introduced an exception to copyright for private copying without fair compensation”.

She added: “It is vitally important that fairness for songwriters, composers and performers is written into the law. My members’ music defines this country. It’s only right that government gives us the standard of legislation our music deserves”.

However, it’s unlikely the ruling will deter people from ripping CDS, partly because it’s unclear how the law could be enforced. For years, millions of people have ripped CDS without any action being taken against them. Legal experts say that the High Court’s ruling may turn out to be nothing more than symbolic.