Copyright: back to the drawing board

THE UK government has withdrawn its attempt to introduce extended collective licensing and licensing of orphan works.

The Conservative Party, if elected on 6 May, will introduce an Intellectual Property Bill. If they do not get a clear majority, it unclear how long it will be before Parliamentary time is found for such a move.

It is unclear what changes the Conservative Party contemplates, given that the party's position has, er, evolved rapidly in the past week.

Also withdrawn is Clause 29 of the Bill, which would have set up and funded "regional news consortia" to provide ITV news in pilot areas, which the NUJ and sister unions had supported.