Pressure is mounting as next week’s presentations of proposals on telecoms rules and copyright draw near. The rumours doing the rounds are not to the liking of all, as a number of lobby groups have made clear to the press.
The fiercest reactions have been on copyright, given that the draft directive has been leaked in the press.
According to the draft version (see EUROPE 11613), the reform will be articulated around four major ideas: (1) abolition of borders for television online, with application of the country of origin principle; (2) requirement on platforms which have an active role to conclude licensing agreements with rights-holders (unless they are exempted from liability as provided for in the electronic trade directive); (3) the introduction of exceptions for education, research, cultural heritage and access to books for the visually impaired; (4) creation of a new neighbouring copyright for publishers of news publications.
This latter point, which has been welcomed by the European Publishers Council (EPC), has been questioned by BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, and described as “extravagant and dangerous” by EDRi, (European Digital Rights). At a conference held in the European Parliament on Thursday 8 September, EDRi also regretted the introduction of more exceptions to the principle of copyright, such as the panorama exception. “The leaked draft text leads one to fear an ACTA 2. It is time to come together and to say no to this new ACTA”, commented Diego Naranjo (EDRi).
There has been very little reaction, however, to revision of telecoms rules. According to our information, the Commission is likely to propose: (1) making over-the-top operators subject to security and confidentiality requirements; (2) giving greater importance to trade access agreements; (3) promoting joint-investment for fibre optic; (4) extending the length of licences to at least 25 years, as is the case in the United Kingdom (see EUROPE 11610). At a conference on 8 September, the consumer organisation BEUC warned against an approach favouring investment over consumers. By way of example, it said that it would be very unhappy if telecoms operators were exempted from certain rules when they invest in rural areas (such as the two-year maximum length of contract). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)