Videos, memes, and more are safe online in the UK after they announce they will be scrapping the much scrutinised law.

As Brexit approaches, the UK have decided to scrap a controversial law from the EU that put content online at risk from mass censorship. Article 13, later named Article 17, threatened content on major sites like YouTube and Facebook.

The law was created to crack down on copyrighted content being used and uploaded on major platforms online. It was created as a bid to protect the oft lawless ocean of the internet but the Article was criticised for being vague as to what content would be affected by it and how it could be so widely enforced without affecting legally used content.

The article was passed into law by the European Parliament in September 2018, giving all member states 2 years to implement it. With the UK set to leave the European Union they have announced that they will not be implementing the bill.

Conservative MP, Chris Skidmore said that the UK Government “has no plans” to follow the EU’s Copyright Directive. He said: “Any future changes to the UK copyright framework will be considered as part of the usual domestic policy process.”

It’s a move that allows a sigh of relief for content sites like YouTube whose platform is full of content that uses others: reactions, reviews, snippets, leaks, etc. However, parts of the music industry in the UK don’t seem to share their happiness.

The CEO of UK-based Music Manager’s Forum, Annabella Coldrick said: “It is vital that the entire package is enacted. The Copyright Directive is about much more than ‘the value gap’, it has potential to re-calibrate IP legislation for the benefit of those who contribute most to the success of British music.

“It is vital that the entire package is enacted, and MMF will now look to pick up discussions with Government to take this discussion forward, as well as our friends and colleagues in the Council of Music Makers and UK Music.”