Brussels, 09/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - In his closing speech to the World Copyright Summit organised by the International Confederation of Authors and Composers (CISAC) in Brussels on 7-8 June, Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier called for performing rights societies to work in tandem with the European Commission to prepare a new copyright framework which will meet the dual European and digital challenge. “My personal equation is simple: facilitating licensing and making sure rights are enforced mean more creative works for the benefit of the greatest number”. For that reason the commissioner is proposing a single European framework for the digital era which meets the expectations in terms of new services of the ever-more-mobile consumer of cultural works. “My aim is for the single market to offer you the most favourable conditions to encourage creation and cultural diversity”, Barnier told the performing rights societies. He asked for their cooperation in four areas: collective management, orphan works, online dissemination of audiovisual works and enforcement of rights. Pointing out that there is currently no enabling framework which would provide the legal security needed by societies, rights holders and users so that licences for several countries could be concluded, the commissioner proposed a single European framework which he will bring forward before the start of next year. The Commission has just proposed a directive on the digitisation and dissemination of orphan works, an enabling framework that will allow swift research on authors. In terms of the online dissemination of audiovisual works, the Commission is currently finalising a Green Paper which will be put out to consultation of all stakeholders to assess the opportunities and the challenges in terms of acquisition of rights for new forms, remuneration of rights holders, developing new services, such as video on demand, etc. The Commission plans to beef up efforts to tackle piracy, “which weakens the very foundations of creative works and a legal internet economy”, in its fourth area for action (rights enforcement). A legislative response is planned that will address piracy without penalising or criminalising internet users. (I.L./transl.rt)