Brussels, 28/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 26 April during World Intellectual Property Day, European Commissioner for the Internal Market Michel Barnier confirmed that he is working on for a comprehensive revision of the European legislative framework on copyright. He stated from the outset that intellectual property right holders “need to be able to rely on the necessary incentives to continue creating, while the fruits of innovation and creation must be accessible to the widest number of people”. This means being able to meet the challenges created by the current changes occurring in the digital landscape.
The European Commission is currently analysing more than 10,000 responses gathered as part of a public consultation on the subject at the beginning of the year. The Commission is expected to present a White Paper on intellectual property sometime in the middle of June.
During World Intellectual Property Day, Barnier pointed out that that almost 40% of total economic activity in the EU (worth some €4.7 trillion annually) is generated by intellectual property rights-intensive industries and approximately 35% of all employment in the EU is provided directly or indirectly by these industries. The commissioner argued that the EU needs to look to one of its main strengths: its intellectual capital and human resources. He also stated that, “in today's global knowledge-based economy, we need superior technical skills and innovation, which in practice relies on a well-functioning intellectual property (IP) infrastructure”. In a statement, the commissioner highlighted what had already been introduced to this effect in the EU, such as the single patent, reform of trademarks, the directive on collective rights management and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use. (MD)