Brussels, 04/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 3 March in Brussels, the European Parliament intergroup on the cultural and creative industries (ICC) began its work with a meeting with the respective German and French ministers for culture, Monika Grütters and Fleur Pellerin. The meeting provided an occasion for debating European copyright rules in the digital environment.
The aim of the meeting was to look at the ways of ensuring the sustainability of these rights in the new reformed rules the European Commission is expected to present next autumn.
During the debate, the Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) presented the main results from the study carried out by the EY consultancy cabinet on the European creative sector, which provides an idea of the surplus value the creative sector provides. A very constructive debate began between ministers and the many different MEPs who attended, regarding current copyright subjects, explained Pervenche Berès (S&D, France), the MEP who chaired the intergroup.
The ICC contributes 4.2% to GDP and provides more than 7 million jobs. Creative works are also one of the main sources underpinning the digital economy and the information technology sector operators working in it. Nonetheless, the value generated is not shared fairly, according to GESAC. Creators are therefore asking for the question involving the transfer of value to be examined in the ongoing reflection process on copyright. They also believe that intermediaries should play their part in the European economy and appropriately remunerate authors for their work circulating on their networks and platforms. The authors say that it is necessary to clarify that the provisions on exemptions to responsibility included in the e-commerce directive are not applied to them, in order to prevent any misuse occurring. (Isabelle Lamberty)