Brussels, 04/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - As stated in December of last year in a communication, the European Commission launched its initiative “Licences for Europe” , to be led by Commissioners Barnier, Kroes and Vassiliou, on Monday 4 February, according to a press release. This initiative focuses on the modernisation of copyright in the digital era and the development of access to online content. A number of discussion groups will be set in place, bringing together representatives of authors and artists, collective management companies, editors and producers, media groups and web-entrepreneurs, internet platforms, online service operators and consumers.
Although online content (music, films, video games, press) already represents 6.7 million jobs in Europe, its potential has not yet been fully exploited, Michel Barnier stated, as internet users do not in all cases even have access to content, even though this is available in other member states. And “although copyright should not be a convenient scapegoat, it should no longer be one of these obstacles” , the commissioner continued. “It should not be a barrier, but a modern and effective tool to support creation and innovation, to give access to quality content beyond borders” .
The “structured dialogue”, as the Commission calls it, which was set in place on Monday, will have four problems to deal with: - the cross-border portability of online content access services; - the availability online of European films, as just 15% of Europe's cinematographic heritage is currently available online and often on a purely national basis, the Commission said; - the question of the situation of content which re-uses other online content; - and lastly, the issue of making use of new so-called “search” activities or exploring data and texts (“text and data mining”). In its communication dated 18 December, the Commission stated that it wished to be clear by 2014 about the potential legislative initiatives it may launch on the issue, particularly on the harmonisation of copyright and limits and exceptions to copyright. (SP/transl.fl)