About the British Copyright Council
“Our aim is to provide an effective, authoritative and representative voice for the copyright community”
The British Copyright Council is an umbrella organisation providing a forum for the discussion of copyright matters. It is a liaison committee and pressure group for change in copyright law at UK, European and International level.
The BCC represents those who create, hold interests in or manage rights in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, films, sound recordings, broadcasts and other material in which there are rights of copyright or related rights; and those who perform such works.
Members of the BCC include professional associations, industry bodies, trade unions and collecting societies representing hundreds of thousands of authors, creators, performers, publishers and producers. These right holders include many sole traders, freelancers and smaller businesses as well as larger corporations.
The BCC was founded in 1965 and incorporated in 2007 as a not for profit company limited by guarantee.
Our objectives are to:
- Inform our members;
- Represent out members;
- Promote the efffectiveness of copyright;
- Encourage respect for copyright.
In the UK, the BCC is consulted by Government departments, agencies and regulators. It also follows copyright developments in the European Union and is an NGO Observer Member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The BCC maintains links with similar bodies in other countries.
It is the only organisation of its type in the UK. It is an independent body and does not receive government funding. The BCC has developed from an informal grouping of member organisations and has for many years operated on limited resources, relying on the goodwill of members and volunteers to carry out much of its work.
With increasing threats to copyright and far -reaching developments in digital media, the BCC recognises the need for change. The main purpose of incorporation was to give the Council a Constitution which would allow it to develop as an organisation, to expand its membership and broaden its sphere of influence. The BCC’s structure and activities will continue to develop.
The BCC’s constitution enshrines two important principles:
- The overriding responsibility of the Council is to creators and performers and (in their capacity as owners rather than users) to other owners of copyright and related rights and such responsibility entails recognition of the principle that the protection of related rights should in no way prejudice the protection of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. Paragraph 5, Memorandum of Association
While valuing input from those members that represent the copyright industries, for example the publishing and recording industries, the BCC is alone in providing a single voice for those bodies representing individual creators and performers, including authors, artists, journalists, photographers, composers, songwriters, directors, actors and musicians.
- Every member shall have one vote. Article 7.2
This single vote is irrespective of size of the organisation or the contribution it makes to the BCC. The BCC prides itself on its ability to achieve consensus across a wide range of right owners and every member has an equal say in its deliberations.
Company name: British Copyright Council
Registered in England and Wales No.: 6290126
Registered address: Copyright House, 29-33 Berners Street, London W1T 3AB
Please click the link below to access our current Memorandum and Articles of Association.
