The vote at the European Parliament's judicial affairs committee on the “copyright” directive planned for 20 June could be postponed if no agreement is reached before the end of the week on the value gap (article 13). During their meeting on 5 June, the shadow rapporteurs discussed the right to remuneration (article 14a).
It should be pointed out that the draft directive presented in September 2016, introduces further exceptions to copyright and sets out new provisions to ensure improved protection of protected content. On 25 May last, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU reached a negotiating position for the Council (see EUROPE 12029). The judicial affairs committee at the European Parliament (JURI) will hold a vote on 20 or 21 June, which will oblige the shadow rapporteurs to significantly increase the number of meetings in view of resolving controversial questions.
At the end of the meeting on Tuesday 5 June between the shadow rapporteurs, rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP, Germany) circulated another casting of article 14a on the right to remuneration this stipulates that rights holders, authors and interpreters receive “proportionate and appropriate remuneration” for the use of their content. This remuneration will have to be mentioned in the contracts concluded between intermediaries and the authors and interpreters, on the basis of the different modes of utilisation.
The proposal by Mr Voss calls on the member states to in view of determining whether remuneration is “appropriate” and he authorises them to provide for collective agreements or similar joint remuneration agreements. Contrary to a first version published before the meeting, the compromise text no longer makes any reference to the “right and rights holders who are not mentioned in the directive”.
In addition to article 14a, the negotiating team is actively looking for a solution to the question of the value gap (article 13) before the end of the week. If this solution is not forthcoming, the vote could be postponed until another meeting. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)