In an announcement from the European Parliament, Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D, PL), who is steering the legislation through Parliament and led the negotiations, welcomed the deal as a: “first step towards harmonisation of copyright rules in the EU”.

de Oedenberg commented, “The regulation will promote culture and finally make it possible to make some hidden treasures available to the general public”.

Although not a formal deal, the informal agreement sends a clear signal of intent on behalf of the Parliament. The proposals will now require ratification through the Legal Affairs Committee before presentation to Council and Parliament.

For more information, read the European Parliament announcement at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/sv/pressroom/content/20120606IPR46383/html/Orphan-works-informal-deal-done-between-MEPs-and-Council.

The first phase of the study, announced in November 2011, will examine the findings and recommendations of the earlier Hargreaves Review. As part of this process, Hooper has been tasked by Business Secretary Vince Cable with clarifying the respective roles of rightsholders, publishers and other IP stakeholders.

The second phase will recommend solutions to the issues raised in the first – solutions which are likely to include a recommendation for a Digital Copyright Exchange to act as a ‘clearing house’ for rights exchange (originally mooted in the Hargreaves Report).

The deadline for submissions of evidence is the 10th February 2012, and further information and details of how to respond can be found at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/press/press-release/press-release-2012/press-release-20120104.htm.