Brussels, 13/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Industry has made ten pledges to distribute more online content without obstacles within the EU. The “Licences for Europe” dialogue exercise among stakeholders, supported by the European Commission, was concluded on Wednesday 13 November and has led to concrete commitments to improve the cross-border portability of services, access to the audiovisual heritage, the exploitation of data and content generated by users as well as the granting of micro-licences. These initiatives by and for the industry do not, however, rule out subsequent legislative proposals from the Commission to support this drive. They already add to efforts made by the European executive to modernise the legislative framework on copyright in the digital era.
EC to monitor these concerted initiatives. The third and final plenary meeting of the Licences for Europe platform drew a line under a year of discussions between consumer organisations and authors, internet service providers, IT companies and other players in the industrial and cultural sectors. Having closely followed this collaboration, European Commissioners for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, Culture, Androulla Vassiliou, and the Internal Market, Michel Barnier, took part in this conference. Barnier welcomed the fact that the initiatives presented to the conference “are a fast track to bring more online content to all Europeans”. He plans to monitor the implementation of these spontaneous initiatives closely and to ensure that “our future policies help share and reward creation and the single market”.
Ten key commitments. A consensus was reached within this complex and diversified industry on ten key pledges to be taken to disseminate online content in the EU more broadly and easily. Basically, the cross-border portability of subscription options will be developed, digital books will be made accessible on all devices and across all borders, it will be easier to obtain licences for music, access to images and publications will be facilitated and it will be possible to identify works and rights online, as well as online audiovisual content. Readers will also be made more closely involved in online press, cinematographic heritage will be made accessible over the internet and TV image archives will be digitalised. Lastly, searching data on material accessible on subscription will be made easier for searches for non-commercial purposes.
Moderate consensus. These are the outlines of the ideal distribution of digital content in Europe, according to the stakeholders. They have been drawn up on the basis of work carried out by four working groups on the cross-border portability of services; the audiovisual heritage, content created by users and the granting of micro-licences as well as on searching texts and data. There is still no consensus between the players as yet on the last two points, but the future work of the European executive will make it possible to revisit these.
Legislative proposals in 2014. Indeed, on the basis of these commitments on the part of the industry, the European Commission will continue its revision of the European framework applicable to copyright. New legislative proposals are scheduled for next spring. A public consultation will therefore open in the very near future, following an impact assessment. (MD/transl.fl)