Its official! Ripping CDs for personal use is illegal

UK's music industry organisations have won a High Court battle over measures introduced by the Government to allow public to lawfully copy CDs for their own private use.

The legislation of transferring music from purchased CDs to MP3s, which took about five years to implement, was condemned by music organisations after they disagreed with the Government's conclusion that the change would not cause financial harm to the music industry, the Independent reported.

The Musician's Union, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and UK Music all applied for a judicial review of the new legislation in November 2014, despite the Government reasoning that legalising transfers would be "in the best interest" of consumers.

Although the music groups were not against private copying they suggested that there should be a tax on blank media, such as blank CDs, hard drives and memory sticks. They suggested this money could then be shared between rights holders, a strategy already employed in other European countries.

A new hearing was scheduled for July to decide what action should be taken in response to the High Court's judgement and will determine whether private copying exceptions should be abolished from UK law.