Nine months ago, ripping a CD or DVD for personal use became legal in the UK but in a surprising u-turn, the practice has now been made illegal once again.

This new decision has been made after music industry insiders challenged the law which they see as being a danger to copyright.

UK Music CEO Jo Dipple said: "It is vitally important that fairness for songwriters, composers and performers is written into the law.

"My members' music defines this country. It is only right that Government gives us the standard of legislation our music deserves. We want to work with Government so this can be achieved."
This is all very well and good but it has not yet been made clear how this particular law is likely to be enforced.

There is little difference between this and recording music from the radio like we used to in the good old days. It was illegal back then just as it will become once again but it was very difficult to enforce the law when, realistically, everyone was doing. I’m not saying that makes it any less illegal but are the police really going to waste their time arresting someone who has put together a CD compilation to play in their car?

The Government has said that it is "considering the implications of the court rulings and the available options" so it seems as though even they aren’t sure how they are going to enforce it yet.
It just seems as though the industry is shooting itself in the foot on this one. If you make something illegal, especially if it is something that as trivial to many people as this, they are all the more likely to do it. If you are legally acquiring your music through the correct channels, why shouldn’t you by able to create a CD of it for your own personal use.

Obviously there are the people out there that will abuse copyrighted material but that is always going to happen no matter how strict you try to be. They shouldn’t be penalising genuine music fans who just want to enjoy their music they way they want to.