Brussels, 07/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, said on Tuesday 7 June how much she regretted there were so few internet sites marketing online creative content throughout Europe. She was speaking at the opening of the world conference on copyright organised by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) on 7 and 8 June in Brussels. A system that fits the digital era is needed, which stimulates creative industries rather than putting a brake on them, the commissioner said. She bemoaned the fact that Europe had fallen behind the United States because of its obsolete copyright system that still works on a national basis, when internet knows no borders. “In short, while US companies compete to provide attractive online content experience to millions of consumers, Europe can boast several regional players at best. This has to change”, the commissioner said. Although, today, downloaded music is four times more prevalent in the United States than in Europe, it is not because there is any shortage of ideas on the part of the European creative industries but because the EU is suffering from a lack of legal offers and from market fragmentation, Kroes went on. The European Commission will soon be publishing a Green Paper that will tackle the problems of copyright for online distribution of audiovisual works. It is necessary to be pragmatic, Kroes concludes, as “time is not on our side. The longer we spend being a mere talking shop, discussing and disputing among ourselves, the more we will discover that the world has moved ahead without us”. In an interview prior to the summit, Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier (who is to attend the event on Wednesday 8 June) pointed out the essential role of intellectual property in the global competition for innovation and growth. “My conviction is that, without intellectual property, there is no innovation and, without innovation, there is no strong and lasting economic growth”, he said. The European Union has several challenges to face in the modernisation of copyright, in order to improve the current dysfunction. The commissioner points out: 1) Imperfect transactions as it is very difficult, for example, in the present framework to exercise musical rights on the internet on a multi-territorial basis; 2) imperfect and fragmented circulation of information and access to European cultural goods (for example, the cost of a patent is ten times higher in Europe than in the United States); and 3) the inadequate fight against counterfeiting and piracy, with a 920% increase in seizures of counterfeit goods by customs between 1999 and 2009. Barnier said: “My objective is to renovate the existing legislation to make it into enabling legislation. This renovated framework must be encouraging. It must act as an incentive to all stakeholders: motivating creators to innovate and create ideas and value, motivating users to develop innovative business models and motivating consumers to demand quality content and products”. CISAC President Robin Gibb, a former member of the legendary Bee Gees group, said the time is ripe for optimism. Although there are sizeable challenges to be faced, the instruments needed to face up to these challenges are now available. They must simply be adjusted to fit a new environment, he said. That is where the challenge lies, he explained, saying that, if everyone pulls together, then he believes it will be possible to move forward to the benefit of authors and those who wish to enjoy the advantage of their creations worldwide. (I.L./transl.jl)