29/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is holding a public hearing on private copying levies (see EUROPE 9602). This system authorises the copying of audiovisual works against the imposition of a levy on blank CDs or DVDs and electronic equipment, such as MP3 players, printers, mobile phones, which is then paid to the artists. The hearing will be organised around three panels: Role and impact of private copying levies in the digital environment; member states' experience with private copying levies; and Private copying levies - what direction should future policy take? Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy and several MEPs will be among those speaking. In December 2006, the Commission was unsuccessful in its attempt to impose a non-binding recommendation on this controversial issue (see EUROPE 9327). Registration and programme: http: //ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/levy_reform/index_en.htm (M.B.)