COPYRIGHT : MCCREEVY RELAUNCHES DEBATE ON PRIVATE COPYING.

Charlie McCreevy wants to take a fresh look at the very controversial issue of private copying levies. The internal market commissioner denies "calling into doubt" the right to compensation for private copying but he sees the need for "more coherence" in the way levies are imposed on different recording materials, the proceeds of which are intended to compensate rights-holders. On 14 February, he urged "all stakeholders" to take part in a consultation that will run until 18 April and will be followed by a public hearing at the end of June.

McCreevy was nevertheless in favour of the gradual abolition of private copying levies. A draft recommendation prepared by his services denounced this practice and widely backed the positions of the industry, essentially arguing that: there is no cause and effect relationship between the compensation claimed and the levies; collection and distribution systems lack...