COPYRIGHT : INDUSTRY CRITICAL OF CHANGE OF TACK ON PRIVATE COPYING.

An unmitigated reverse for the electronics and software industry. By deciding to postpone the adoption of a recommendation on charges on recording equipment for private copying to an unspecified date, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has fired a warning shot across the industry's bows. The initiative, announced by Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy in October 2005 with a view to remedying what he regards as an obstacle to the proper functioning of the internal market, inspired the industry to set up the Copyright Levies Reform Alliance (CLRA). Its views were indeed largely taken up in the project, which led to accusations being levelled at the Commission by authors and creators. The French delegation in the Council, meanwhile, led calls for an exchange of views on the topic prior to launching any...