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Together for Europe’s creative future and a strong copyright

Next Wednesday, 12 September 2018, the European Parliament is going to vote on the review of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market After a ballot in July the review which is supported by authors, artists as well as producers, went into a further round of negotiations.

The Directive stipulates a stronger responsibility for internet platforms and clear regulations in terms of the Urhebervertragsrecht [copyright contract law]. One particular objective is to close the so-called “Value Gap” between platforms and creatives. The intention is to force platforms such as YouTube to filter new contents before their publication and check whether they are due any due licensing remuneration. Currently, contents are only deleted retrospectively if copyright infringements have been actively indicated. Furthermore, the contracts that digital platforms have concluded with content providers are unbalanced and discriminate against artists and producers. The Directive is intended to reinstate the respective transparency and fairness. Only a fair remuneration and a clear legal basis are going to ensure that Europe’s creative industries will have a sustainable future.

“The protection of the rights of our artists, producers and event organisers and an adequate remuneration for the use of their productions on all channels is of absolute priority to us,” reinforces Dr. Tilo Gerlach, Managing Director, GVL. “Even though the platform responsibility in Article 13 and the improvements in the copyright contract law in their subsequent Articles have no direct impact on GVL remuneration, but the fair pay of our members. Against this background it is an important concern of ours to support a strong European copyright.”

“To the extent that online platforms are forced on a Europe-wide level to take on responsibility for licensing and remuneration, economic opportunities of creatives and their partners will increase and they will be more motivated to create a plethora of content and cultural diversity.  It is not only the rights holders that benefit from this step”, confirms fellow Managing Director, Guido Evers.
Players in Europe in charge are called upon to regulate this blatantly lop-sided faulty situation in a future-oriented and sustainable manner.

Please join in and support the rights of European creatives:
In order to create more emphasis on the demands of the music and creators’ sector, the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) has launched an online petition.  At www.love-music.co citizens and creatives can vote for a strong European copyright.
EUROPE FOR CREATORS also backs the harmonisation of the copyright legislation; it is a movement which brings together citizens, authors, artists and organisations. In the scope of the campaign “Make Internet Fair” (www.europeforcreators.eu respectively www.makeinternetfair.eu) the organisation calls for putting an end to the value transfer moving away from the many creatives towards just a few online platforms.