A new law passed by Parliament will allow images to be reproduced without their owner's permission when the owner cannot be contacted, angering photographers who believe their copyright ownership of original works has been devalued, reports the BBC.
The law of copyright protects original works including the written word, paintings, drawings and photographs from unauthorised reproduction. It is a cornerstone of intellectual property law, allowing the creator of a piece of work to automatically assert legal ownership over it, without the need to contact a lawyer or register the existence of the piece.
However, photographers believe that this right has been thrown into jeopardy by a new law passed by Parliament and given Royal Assent on 25 April 2013.
