Brussels, 23/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has launched consultation on simplification of legislation concerning copyright and related rights, to be closed on 31 October 2004. It will be based on responses received to submit proposals for amending the current legislation "during next year", it points out.
The aim is to ensure that the seven directives adopted during recent years are consistent, mainly those concerning computer programmes, rental rights, the duration of protection and databases. The Commission plans to verify whether any inconsistencies between the different directives hamper the operation of EU copyright law or damage the balance between rights holders' interests, those of users and consumers and those of the European economy as a whole, it is stated in a Commission press release.
According to the working document submitted to consultation, it would above all be relevant to specify the definition of reproduction rights, exceptions and limits. The Commission also wonders whether protection is needed for phonogram producers or broadcasting organisations in third countries depending on their nationality, their place of activity, the first fixation or the first publication of the work.
On the other hand, the Commission considers at this stage that it is not necessary to extend copyright protection for recorded music from 50 to 95 years, as in the United States. "In nearly all other industrialised countries, the relevant period is also 50 years", it states in the press release.