High court quashes regulations allowing people to copy CDs

Move follows judge's recent ruling that government was legally mistaken in deciding not to introduce compensation scheme for musicians who faced losses

The high court has quashed regulations introduced by the government to allow members of the public to lawfully copy CDs and other copyright material bought for their own private use. The move follows a judge's recent ruling that the government was legally incorrect in deciding not to introduce a compensation scheme for songwriters, musicians and other rights holders who faced losses as a result of their copyright being infringed.

The decision was won by the Musicians' Union, UK Music and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, with a legal team led by two QCs, Ian Mill and Tom de la Mare. UK Music estimated that the new regulations, without a compensation scheme, would result in loss of revenues for rights owners in the creative sector of 58m a year.