INTERNET/EUROPEAN COUNCIL : COPYRIGHT: TO LEGISLATE OR NOT?

A "modern copyright system," adapted to the internet age, is required for the circulation of films, music and digital books in the EU. This is the premise on which member states based the conclusions of the European Council of 24-25 October in Brussels. Will this provoke more in-depth discussions? This is unlikely at the political level, but a message has been delivered on the direction to be taken in the coming years.

Ultimately, the question is whether or not to legislate in this or that area of copyright. The workshops have opened; these few lines should mobilise collective copyright management companies, web companies, telecoms, television, cinema and consumers. Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier has opened several workshops (on private copying, multi-territorial licences, the circulation of audiovisual works, etc) bringing together professionals within expert groups under the Licensing for Europe' initiative. The Commission should reach conclusions by the spring of 2014, and "propose targeted legislation where necessary," the EU28 confirmed, on 25 October. A dozen countries, including Finland, the Netherlands, the UK and Poland have already called for an in-depth reform of online copyright in order to re-launch European growth through the Digital Agenda. Others, led by France, defend the remunerative role of copyright for creators, rights-holders and artists, and for culture in general.

AUDIOVISUAL POLICY

Some sectors - such as audiovisual - are already preparing for renewed questioning of their function. "A French football presenter will be interested in the match from the French viewer's point of view, and the match must be reported in his language and with his cultural references," said Olivier Bomsel, economist and professor of industrial economy at the MINES Paris-Tech School, and co-author of a study entitled Why territories count,' presented on 17 October in Brussels."A Clint Eastwood film will be sold in France under the director's angle and appreciated in France, while it is seen from the point of view of German actors," he told journalists.

A vision of the past, in this internet era when matches can be viewed on any foreign site in any language? "This is not the solvent part of the market," argued Bomsel.

Bomsel says that the European Commission, which has only recently said that the accumulation of content' should not cause European telecoms equipment manufacturers to go bankrupt, "has realised that digital does not...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT