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CLA offers £100k for copyright whistleblowers
18/01/2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may see more clients concerned about licensing and copyright infringements after the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) has offered those who inform on people breaching the law a massive cash incentive.
The CLA has warned businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland that they will have to call their solicitors if they are found making illegal copies of copyrighted documents and is calling on employees to report unlawful copying in the workplace.
If their solicitors are unable to defend them against copyright infringement charges because they have not got a licence, businesses could also face heavy fines.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, CLA chief executive Kevin Fitzgerald said: "Most government agencies and most businesses have a licence.
"We know there are certain business sectors that need to pull up their socks in this respect, and there are some local government agencies who are perhaps not doing what they should be doing."
He added: "Most people are very aware because we have business development people who knock on their doors and explain what the law is, and explain that we are a facilitator to help people make limited copies for their genuine reasonable business needs."
However, Mr Fitzgerald estimated that there is £10 million worth of illegal copying occurring in Britain and Northern Ireland.
"That means that rights holders - so writers, photographers and publishers - are missing out on that really important tranche of income," he said.
He added that whistleblowers in Belfast and Northern Ireland who could give the CLA a "really strong case and some really good evidence" of illegal copying at work could earn up to £100,000 as a reward.
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The CLA has warned businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland that they will have to call their solicitors if they are found making illegal copies of copyrighted documents and is calling on employees to report unlawful copying in the workplace.
If their solicitors are unable to defend them against copyright infringement charges because they have not got a licence, businesses could also face heavy fines.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, CLA chief executive Kevin Fitzgerald said: "Most government agencies and most businesses have a licence.
"We know there are certain business sectors that need to pull up their socks in this respect, and there are some local government agencies who are perhaps not doing what they should be doing."
He added: "Most people are very aware because we have business development people who knock on their doors and explain what the law is, and explain that we are a facilitator to help people make limited copies for their genuine reasonable business needs."
However, Mr Fitzgerald estimated that there is £10 million worth of illegal copying occurring in Britain and Northern Ireland.
"That means that rights holders - so writers, photographers and publishers - are missing out on that really important tranche of income," he said.
He added that whistleblowers in Belfast and Northern Ireland who could give the CLA a "really strong case and some really good evidence" of illegal copying at work could earn up to £100,000 as a reward.
Contact us for legal advice
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