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Part IU.K. Copyright

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1989/988, art. 2(3), 4, 5, Sch. 4 (with art. 6) (which S.I. was revoked by S.I. 1989/1293, Sch. 5)

C2Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1989/1293, arts. 2(3), 3, 4, 5, Sch. 4 (with art. 6) (which S.I. was revoked by S.I.1993/942, art. 8, Sch. 5)

C3Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1993/942, arts. 2(3), 4, 5, Sch. 4 (with art. 6) (as amended by S.I.1994/263, art. 2 and S.I. 1995/2987, art. 3) (which S.I. and amending S.Is. were revoked by S.I. 1999/1751, art. 8, Sch. 6)

C4Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (22.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1751, arts. 2(3), 3, 4(3)(5), 5, 7, Schs. 2, 4, 5 (as amended (22.4.2003) by S.I. 2003/774, arts. 2-5) (which S.I. and amending S.I. were revoked (1.5.2005) by S.I. 2005/852, art. 8)

C5Pt. 1 extended in part (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Copyright (Bermuda) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1517), art. 2, Sch. (which S.I. was revoked (12.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/2749, arts. 1, 2)

C7Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (1.5.2005) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/852), arts. 2-5, Sch. (with art. 7) (which S.I. was revoked (6.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/316, art. 1(3))

C8Pt. 1 extended in part (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Copyright (Gibraltar) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/853), art. 2, Sch. (which S.I. is revoked (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 2006/1039, arts. 1, 2)

C9Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (6.4.2006) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/316), arts. 2-5, Sch. (with art. 7) (which S.I. was revoked (6.4.2007) by S.I. 2007/273, art. 1(3))

C10Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (6.4.2007) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/273), arts. 2-5, Sch. (with art. 7) (which S.I. was revoked (6.4.2008) by S.I. 2008/677, art. 1(3))

C11Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (6.4.2008) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/677), arts. 2-5, Sch. (with art. 7) (which S.I. was revoked (6.4.2012) by S.I. 2012/799, art. 1(3))

C12Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (6.4.2012) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/799), arts. 1(1), arts. 2-5, Schs. (with art. 8) (which S.I. was revoked (6.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/536), art. 1(3))

C13Pt. 1 extended in part (with modifications) (6.4.2013) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/536), arts. 1(1), 2, 4, 5, Sch. (with art. 8) (as amended (6.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/216, art. 2) (which S.I. and amending S.I. were revoked (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2016/1219, art. 1(3))

C14Pt. 1 extended in part (Cayman Islands) (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending Order) by The Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/795), arts. 1, 2, Sch. (as amended by (S.I. 2016/370, arts. 1, 2-40)

C15Pt. 1 restricted (6.4.2017) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1219), arts. 1(1), 2, 3, 6 (with art. 13) (as amended (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 2024/193, arts. 1(2), 3, 4, 5)

C16Pt. 1 extended (with modifications) (6.4.2017) by The Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1219), arts. 1(1), 4, 5, 7, 8, Sch. Pt. 1 (with art. 13) (as amended: (26.6.2021) by S.I. 2021/636, arts. 1, 2(2); (1.12.2021) by S.I. 2021/1258, arts. 1, 2(2); (15.4.2023) by S.I. 2023/296, arts. 1, 2(2); and (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 2024/193, arts. 1(2), 5)

C17Pt. 1: power to extend conferred (27.4.2017) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 118(1), 119(7)(8)(a)

Chapter IIIU.K. Acts Permitted in relation to Copyright Works

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C19Pt. 1 Ch. III applied (with modifications) (1.12.1996) by S.I. 1996/2967, reg. 17(1)-(3) (with Pt. III)

C20Pt. 1 Ch. III continued (31.10.2003) by virtue of The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), reg. 33, (with regs. 31-40)

[F1Disability]U.K.

Textual Amendments

[F231A Disabled persons: copies of works for personal useU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a disabled person has lawful [F3access to] a copy of the whole or part of a work, and

(b)the person’s disability prevents the person from enjoying the work to [F4substantially] the same degree as a person who does not have that disability.

(2)The making of an accessible copy of the copy of the work referred to in subsection (1)(a) does not infringe copyright if—

(a)the copy is made by the disabled person [F5and] or by a person acting on behalf of the disabled person,

(b)the copy is made for the disabled person’s personal use F6...

F7(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)Copyright is infringed by the transfer of an accessible copy of a work made under this section to any person other than—

(a)a person by or for whom an accessible copy of the work may be made under this section, or

(b)a person who intends to transfer the copy to a person falling within paragraph (a),

except where the transfer is authorised by the copyright owner.

(5)An accessible copy of a work made under this section is to be treated for all purposes as an infringing copy if it is held by a person at a time when the person does not fall within subsection (4)(a) or (b).

(6)If an accessible copy made under this section is subsequently dealt with—

(a)it is to be treated as an infringing copy for the purposes of that dealing, and

(b)if that dealing infringes copyright, it is to be treated as an infringing copy for all subsequent purposes.

(7)In this section “dealt with” means sold or let for hire or offered or exposed for sale or hire.]

Textual Amendments

[F931B Making [F10, communicating, making available, distributing or lending] of accessible copies by authorised bodiesU.K.

[F11(1)If—

(a)an authorised body has lawful access to the whole or part of a work which has been published or otherwise made available, and

(b)the body complies with subsection (1A),

the body may, without infringing copyright, make, communicate, make available, distribute or lend accessible copies of the work on a non-profit basis for the personal use of disabled persons in the United Kingdom F12....

(1A)An authorised body complies with this subsection if it—

(a)distributes, communicates, makes available or lends accessible copies only to disabled persons or other authorised bodies,

(b)takes appropriate steps to discourage the unauthorised reproduction, distribution, communication to the public or making available to the public of accessible copies,

(c)demonstrates due care in, and maintains records of, its handling of works and accessible copies, and

(d)publishes and updates, on its website if appropriate, or through other online or offline channels, information on how it complies with the obligations in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).]

F13(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)For the purposes of [F14subsection (1)], [F15to communicate, make available, distribute or lend] “for the personal use of disabled persons” [F16includes to communicate, make available, distribute or lend] to a person acting on behalf of a disabled person.

F17(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9)An authorised body which has made an accessible copy of a work under this section may [F18communicate, make available, distribute or lend] it to another authorised body [F19established in the United Kingdom F20...] which is entitled to make accessible copies of the work under this section for the purposes of enabling that other body to make accessible copies of the work.

F21(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(11)If an accessible copy made under this section is subsequently dealt with—

(a)it is to be treated as an infringing copy for the purposes of that dealing, and

(b)if that dealing infringes copyright, it is to be treated as an infringing copy for all subsequent purposes.

(12)In this section “dealt with” means sold or let for hire or offered or exposed for sale or hire.

Textual Amendments

F12Words in s. 31B(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 9 (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F20Words in s. 31B(9) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 9 (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

31BAMaking [F22, communicating, making available, distributing or lending] of intermediate copies by authorised bodiesU.K.

(1)An authorised body which is entitled to make an accessible copy of a work under section 31B may, without infringing copyright, make a copy of the work (“an intermediate copy”) if this is necessary in order to make the accessible copy.

(2)An authorised body which has made an intermediate copy of a work under this section may [F23communicate, make available, distribute or lend it on a non-profit basis] to another authorised body which is entitled to make accessible copies of the work under section 31B for the purposes of enabling that other body to make accessible copies of the work.

(3)Copyright is infringed by the transfer of an intermediate copy made under this section to a person other than another authorised body as permitted by subsection (2), except where the transfer is authorised by the copyright owner.

(4)F24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

31BBAccessible and intermediate copies: records and notificationU.K.

(1)[F25A person listed in subsection (3) may request an authorised body—

(a)making accessible copies under section 31B, or

(b)making intermediate copies under section 31BA,

to provide the person with the information in subsection (4).

(2)On receipt of a request under subsection (1), an authorised body must provide the information to the person in an accessible way within a reasonable time.

(3)The persons who may make a request under subsection (1) are—

(a)disabled person;

(b)another authorised body;

(c)rightholders.

(4)The information that must be provided by the authorised body is—

(a)the list of works for which it has accessible copies and the available formats, and

(b)the name and contact details of any authorised body established in [F26a] member State of the European Union from which, or to which, it has imported, exported or accessed an accessible copy.]]

Textual Amendments

F26Word in s. 31BB(4)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 10 (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2731C

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Textual Amendments

F2731D

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Textual Amendments

F2731E

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Textual Amendments

[F2831F Sections 31A to 31BB: interpretation and generalU.K.

(1)This section supplements sections 31A to 31BB and includes definitions.

(2)“Disabled person” means a person who has a physical or mental impairment which prevents the person from enjoying a copyright work to [F29substantially] the same degree as a person who does not have that impairment, and “disability” is to be construed accordingly.

(3)But a person is not to be regarded as disabled by reason only of an impairment of visual function which can be improved, [F30for example] by the use of corrective lenses, to a level that is normally acceptable for reading without a special level or kind of light.

(4)An “accessible copy” of a copyright work means a version of the work which enables [F31disabled persons to access the work, including accessing it as feasibly and comfortably as a person who is not a disabled person].

(5)An accessible copy—

(a)may include facilities for navigating around the version of the work, but

(b)must not include any changes to the work which are not necessary to overcome the problems suffered by the disabled persons for whom the accessible copy is intended.

(6)“Authorised body” means—

(a)an educational establishment, or

(b)a body that is not conducted for profit.

F32(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)To the extent that a term of a contract purports to prevent or restrict the doing of any act which, by virtue of section [F3327,] 31A, 31B or 31BA, would not infringe copyright, that term is unenforceable.]

Textual Amendments