The Open Rights Group is hosting a supporters meetup to discuss a proposed change in intellectual property law that intends to legalise a range of cultural activities that are currently prohibited in civil courts under copyright law.

The event should be interesting for anyone with an interest in intellectual property and is interested in doing something about all of the consequences of this law on our culture and everyday lives:

Time and again creative, thoughtful and just plain funny works are removed from public view, from innovative creative reworkings of famous songs or films through to the ambitious and important work of campaigning organisations. All because some people can’t take a joke.

Last summer Greenpeace had their most creative campaigning videos removed from YouTube because they dared to remake Volkswagon’s Star Wars themed adverts. In 2010, innovative British songwriters Alex Warren and Terema Wainwright saw their ‘Newport State of Mind’ parody taken down from YouTube just at it exploded in popularity.

And ORG suggests:

…we have a unique opportunity to get the law changed so that it supports rather than punishes the art of parody.

We need your help to tell policy makers that copyright law needs to grow a sense of humour.

The meet up takes place on the 1st floor of The Old Crown Pub (33 New Oxford Street
WC1A 1BH London) at 7pm on Monday 23rd January. Tickets are available free via Eventbrite.