RE: UK Copyright,, ripping CDs, iPOD owning MPs?

[sent 2nd time as 1st copy didn't go to list]

> As I understand it, it's legal to import copyright material as long as the
> copying, had it occurred within the UK, would have been legal under UK
> law.
> Therefore no, you can't, as it would have been illegal to copy it in the
> UK.

Which also means if you are flying from one country to another via the UK
for example (say a 2 hour transfer at Heathrow) that in principle you're
breaking UK law if you've got your iPod/whatever with you. Same goes for
people with portable video players if they have any films on them (unless
they're recorded off TV for timeshifting purposes). Many (most?) other
countries also don't have "fair use" provisions in their copyright law so
any of us travelling with our music player are now international
criminals......doh!

BTW I was in Virgin Megastore at lunchtime and just behind the counter was
a big poster about digital media players "encouraging" you to rip your
music CDs and transfer them to music players. Isn't there some sort of
legal offence of "encouraging someone to break the law"??????