EUROPEAN COUNCIL/COPYRIGHT : TWELVE COUNTRIES DEFEND LIBERAL APPROACH.

The debate on the reform of copyright in the EU promises to be more than lively, with, on the one hand, the defenders of the protection of copyright online - such as France; and, on the other hand, the countries that are in favour of a broad reform of national systems. Among these, the twelve countries that signed a letter on growth (sent ahead of the 1-2 March European Council) - led by the British and Italian heads of government, respectively David Cameron and Mario Monti - are defenders of liberal options.

The 27 member states wish to settle on pillars for growth, and in any case - as stressed in their conclusions - they are impatiently awaiting the proposals on copyright by Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier. They also reiterated their wish to establish a "digital single market by 2015, in particular by adopting measures toaboostaconfidence in on-line trade and by providing better broadband coverage". The Commission's legislative proposals are expected for spring.

However, in the context of still stormy debates on the reform of the royalties system for private copying, which has received a lot of bad press from the digital industry, as well as on the online circulation of works, the countries that defend more liberal options seem to have struck a note at the Council. In their letter, the twelve' complain about Europe's slow-moving in terms of digital economy: cross-border trade remains low and creativity is hindered by a "complex system of copyright systems that differ from country to country". The twelve countries also call on the EU to take actions to simplify the licence systems and to establish an effective framework for...