Brussels, 09/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The White Paper on the modernisation of copyright is unlikely to be adopted under the mandate of the outgoing Commission. This is not expected to upset the creative sector very much, which has expressed fears about the current legal framework being watered down.
The draft White Paper, put together by the staff of European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier, experienced delays at the beginning of the summer following an interservice consultation that was very critical (see EUROPE 11124). This hot potato is therefore likely to be sent back to the next European Commission.
Creativity Works! - a coalition of authors and producers from across the board - is looking at who could be the possible beneficiaries of a reopening of the legislative framework. The creative sector underlines the importance of copyright as a driving force for creativity. One source close to the creative industries stated that “certain web giants perhaps believe that the European framework should be reformed. But they need copyright and they should be made to pay for it”. The source expressed concern that a White Paper on copyright could be the prelude to a legislative big bang that would have a negative impact on more vulnerable artists. “There is a risk that this [Ed: legislative reform] would be torpedoed by the net giants to the advantage of non-European companies. Why promote infrastructure over those who create the content?”
The creative industry believes that the current legislative framework is still useful and contemporary and that it has been able to adapt to the digital environment over the past 10 years (for example, with orphan works and collective rights management). The sector's starting point is that the market remains characterised by linguistic characteristics that are often determined by national boundaries. “Why raise the possibility of a reopening when there is a satisfactory legal framework. The question is one of improving implementation”, the same source concludes. The watchword for Creativity Works! is that they must, above all, avoid weakening copyright, which remains the cornerstone of the creative industry. It is now the team of future Commission President Jean-Claude Junker that will undoubtedly have to give its opinion on this matter. (MD)