Brussels, 23/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - A draft resolution from the European Parliament, to be presented in October, will call on the member states to harmonise the definition of the private copy levy. Françoise Castex (EPP, France), who is drafting the document, is unhappy at the distortions of competition that can be caused by the differences between the various national systems for levying the charges, the different levels of charge and types of product subject to charge. With the cultural sector worth 2.6% of EU GDP, Castex takes the view that private copy levies could be an essential source of revenue in times of austerity.
In her draft resolution, she will propose that the charge be applied to all devices, all formats and all services, and that the level of charge be linked to storage and recording capacity. She believes that the levies should be charged to manufacturers - or importers in cross-border transactions - and that they should be paid in the member state in which the product is marketed, with no further levies being made elsewhere in the internal market.
Castex says, too, that 25% of the money generated by private copy charges should be used to support creation and live performance. She recommends that consumers be better informed on the positive impact of private copy levies on the remuneration of artists and cultural activities. Thus, she suggests, member states should move away from anti-piracy campaigns and towards “positive” campaigns highlighting the usefulness of the levy.
Her draft resolution will be presented to the legal affairs committee on 14 October. (MD/transl.fl)