Who we are

Founded in 1965 and incorporated in 2007, the British Copyright Council is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a forum for discussion of copyright law and related issues at UK, European and International levels. The BCC is independent, receives no government funding and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

We aim to provide an effective, authoritative and representative voice for the copyright community. We represent 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.

 

What we do

Copyright and related rights provide creators and performers with a means of earning a living, as well as being an important tool for those at the business end of the creative and cultural industries.

We inform and represent our members, and promote the effectiveness of and respect for copyright. In the UK, the BCC is consulted by Government departments, agencies and regulators. We follow copyright developments in the European Union and have NGO Observer status at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). We maintain links with similar bodies in other countries.

We encourage members to review and debate proposals for legislative change in the field of copyright and related rights. Discussions on specific issues take place either in the full Council or in delegated Working Groups. From these discussions the Council’s views are developed and further member consultation takes place before final approval.

The Council responds to proposals or consultations initiated by the British Government, Directorates General of the European Commission or Parliament, and at international level by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). However, we also respond to papers produced by other interest groups and are pro-active in making recommendations and urging action on Government and other policymakers.

Board Members
TREVOR COOK

TREVOR COOK

Director & Chairman

Solicitor, of Counsel, Bird & Bird
Nominated by all Members, Trevor is independent and not representative of a Member organisation (Article 8.1(f))

NICOLA SOLOMON

NICOLA SOLOMON

Director, Literary and Dramatic Works

Chief Executive,
Society of Authors
(Article 8.1(a))
JOHN MOTTRAM

JOHN MOTTRAM

Director, Musical Works

Head of Public Affairs,
PRS for Music

(Article 8.1(b))
ISABELLE DORAN

ISABELLE DORAN

Director, Artistic Works

Chief Executive Officer, The Association of Photographers
(Article 8.1(c))

ANDREW YEATES

ANDREW YEATES

Director, Categories of Works other than Literary, Dramatic, Musical, Artistic

IP Adviser, PPA
(Article 8.1(d))
CATRIONA STEPHENSON

CATRIONA STEPHENSON

Director, Treasurer

Director nominated by all Members (Article 8.1(e))

CAMILLA WAITE

CAMILLA WAITE

Director

Director nominated by all Members (Article 8.1(g))

RICHARD COMBES

RICHARD COMBES

Director

Head of Rights and Licensing, ALCS
Nominated by any Member (Article 8.1(h))
Board Attendees
MAUREEN DUFFY

MAUREEN DUFFY

President of Honour

FRSL
GEOFFREY ADAMS

GEOFFREY ADAMS

Vice President

VACANT POSITION

VACANT POSITION

Director of Policy & Public Affairs

FLORIAN KOEMPEL

FLORIAN KOEMPEL

International Copyright Consultant

JENNY GOODWIN

JENNY GOODWIN

Executive Administrator

Working Groups

Copyright & Technology Working Group

The Copyright and Technology Working Group has overall responsibility for developing BCC policy, for drafting the majority of BCC consultation responses and position papers and for ensuring that, on every occasion, a proper process is in place for consulting the full BCC and achieving a consensus view.

The Working Group meets six times a year. All BCC members are eligible to join the Working Group and it represents a wide range of rights holder interests. The CTWG is chaired by Andrew Yeates.

Copyright Education & Awareness Working Group

 

This group of BCC members has come together to promote a greater awareness and understanding of copyright through:

  • Education on copyright for creators, rights holders and the creative industry
  • Education on copyright within the education system at all levels
  • The value and benefits of copyright to the general public

The CEAWG is chaired by Denise Swanson.

Working Group on Principles of Good Practice for CMOs (2010-14)

The British Copyright Council’s Working Group on Principles of Good Practice for Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) was formed in May 2010 and was responsible for developing BCC Principles of Collective Management Organisations’ Codes of Conduct – endorsed by the full BCC in May 2012 and formally launched in December of the same year. This policy framework set the standards for CMOs in their treatment of members and licensees, and for internal governance processes, as well as improving information about the activities of CMOs.

The Principles were part of a self-regulatory process that included the Independent Code Review led by Walter Merricks CBE, who was appointed in August 2013. The results of the review were published in a final report in 2014

The Independent Code Review process was superseded by the EU Collective Management of Copyright Regulations, implemented into UK law in 2016.

 

Diary

No Events on The List at This Time

Who we are

Founded in 1965 and incorporated in 2007, the British Copyright Council is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a forum for discussion of copyright law and related issues at UK, European and International levels. The BCC is independent, receives no government funding and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

We aim to provide an effective, authoritative and representative voice for the copyright community. We represent 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.

 

What we do

Copyright and related rights provide creators and performers with a means of earning a living, as well as being an important tool for those at the business end of the creative and cultural industries.

We inform and represent our members, and promote the effectiveness of and respect for copyright. In the UK the BCC is consulted by government departments, agencies and regulators. We follow copyright developments in the European Union and are an NGO Observer Member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). We maintain links with similar bodies in other countries.

We encourage members to review and debate proposals for legislative change in the field of copyright and related rights. Discussions on specific issues take place either in the full Council or in delegated Working Groups. From these discussions the Council’s views are developed and further member consultation takes place before final approval.

The Council responds to proposals or consultations initiated by the British Government, Directorate Generals of the European Commission or Parliament and at International level by WIPO. However, we also respond to papers produced by other interest groups and are pro-active in making recommendations and urging action on Government and other policymakers.

Board Members
TREVOR COOK

TREVOR COOK

Director & Chairman

Solicitor, WilmerHale
Nominated by all Members, Trevor is independent and not representative of a Member organisation
(Article 8.1(f))
NICOLA SOLOMON

NICOLA SOLOMON

Director, Literary and Dramatic Works

Chief Executive,
Society of Authors

(Article 8.1(a))
JOHN MOTTRAM

JOHN MOTTRAM

Director, Musical Works

Head of Public Affairs,
PRS for Music

(Article 8.1(b))
ISABELLE DORAN

ISABELLE DORAN

Director, Artistic Works

Head of Policy & Public Affairs, British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies (BAPLA)
(Article 8.1(c))
ANDREW YEATES

ANDREW YEATES

Director, Categories of Works other than Literary & Dramatic, Musical and Artistic

IP Adviser, PPA
(Article 8.1(d))
Catriona Stephenson

Catriona Stephenson

Director, Treasurer

Director nominated by all Members (Article 8.1(e))

CAMILLA WAITE

CAMILLA WAITE

Director

Director nominated by all Members (Article 8.1(g))

RICHARD COMBES

RICHARD COMBES

Director

Head of Rights and Licensing,
ALCS

Nominated by any Member
(Article 8.1(h))
Board Attendees
MAUREEN DUFFY

MAUREEN DUFFY

President of Honour

FRSL
GEOFFREY ADAMS

GEOFFREY ADAMS

Vice President

VACANT POSITION

VACANT POSITION

Director of Policy and Public Affairs

FLORIAN KOEMPEL

FLORIAN KOEMPEL

International Copyright Consultant

JENNY GOODWIN

JENNY GOODWIN

Executive Administrator

Working Groups

Copyright & Technology Working Group

The Copyright and Technology Working Group has overall responsibility for developing BCC policy, for drafting the majority of BCC consultation responses and position papers and for ensuring that, on every occasion, a proper process is in place for consulting the full BCC and achieving a consensus view.

The Working Group meets six times a year. All BCC members are eligible to join the Working Group and it represents a wide range of rights holder interests. The CTWG is chaired by Andrew Yeates, its Secretary is Hugo Cox.

Copyright Education & Awareness Working Group

This group of BCC members has come together to promote:
Greater awareness and understanding of copyright through:

  • Education on copyright for creators, rights holders and the creative industry
  • Education on copyright within the education system at all levels
  • The value and benefits of copyright to the general public.

Working Group on Principles of Good Practice for CMOs (2010-14)

The British Copyright Council’s Working Group on Principles of Good Practice for Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) was formed in May 2010 and was responsible for developing BCC Principles of Collective Management Organisations’ Codes of Conduct – endorsed by the full BCC in May 2012 and formally launched in December of the same year. This policy framework set the standards for CMOs in their treatment of members and licensees, and for internal governance processes, as well as improving information about the activities of CMOs.

The Principles were part of a self-regulatory process that included the Independent Code Review led by Walter Merricks CBE, who was appointed in August 2013. The results of the review were published in a final report in 2014

The Independent Code Review process was superseded by the EU Collective Management of Copyright Regulations , which was implemented into UK law in 2016.

Diary

No Events on The List at This Time

Picture credits: Shutterstock
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