Brussels, 29/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Audiovisual Observatory has published the following studies:
Latest IRIS plus thematic magazine devoted to Digital Rights Management from the consumers' point of view. Digital Rights Management (DRM) designates the electronic systems used for the marketing and protection of electronic content (music, films, etc.) against fraudulent use. The study evaluates the limits of copyright whose protection systems could restrict access by users to music or films that they buy, to the detriment of consumers' rights. It also examines access to works that come within the public domain (and which are therefore freely accessible), access that is blocked in some cases by these protection systems. The study is available free of charge on the Observatory's website.
Yearbook 2005 - Film, television, video and multimedia in Europe (11th edition, Volume 1: Economy of the Radio and Television Industry in Europe, ISBN 92-871-5784-7). The study gives a detailed economic analysis of television companies in Europe in 2003 and 2004. It above all stresses that: - after the years 2001 and 2002 marked by major losses, the situation of the EU25 television companies generally improved in 2003 and 2004; - TV company revenue rose by EUR 10 billion between 1999 and 2003 to reach EUR 64.5 billion in 2003 (i.e. an annual average growth rate of 4.4%); - the sector as a whole achieved a small but positive profit margin in 2003 (0.4% compared to -5.7% in 2001 and -3.7% in 2002), although the net deficit remains considerable: EUR 2.4 billion compared to EUR 4.7 billion in 2001 and EUR 3.1 billion in 2002. (Information: http: //http://www.obs.coe.int (link “Publications”)