European Commission publishes new proposals for copyright

On 14 September the European Commission published its proposals to modernise EU copyright rules as part of its Digital Single Market strategy.

The copyright proposals focus on three main priorities: better choice and access to content online and across borders; improving copyright rules on research, education and inclusion of people with disability; a fairer and sustainable marketplace for creators, the creative industry and the press.

President Junker announced the proposals as part of his 2016 State of the Union address, stating: “I want journalists, publishers and authors to be paid fairly for their work whether it is made in studios or living rooms, whether it is disseminated offline or online, whether it is published via a copying machine or commercially hyperlinked on the web”.

The new rules were met with mixed reactions from industry and authors groups. The SAA (Society of Audiovisual Authors) and The Authors’ Group (ECSA, EFJ, EWC, FERA, FSE) both welcomed proposals dubbed the ‘transparency triangle’, which aim to improve fair remuneration via author and performer contracts; doing so by introducing a transparency obligation for the exploitation of works, contract adjustment mechanisms, and a dispute resolution mechanism.

However, both organisations agree that further work is needed for this to be truly effective in improving authors’ remuneration. The SAA called on the Commission to “take greater steps to tackle the underlying uneven negotiating position affecting screenwriters and directors” and introduce an unwaivable right to remuneration. CISAC also called on European institutions to take further measures to secure fair remuneration and a better future for creators online.

For more information about the new proposals please go to the European Commission website.

To read the responses from our affiliated organisations please click on the links below:

• SAA - Copyright package: Progress undermined by failure to strengthen rights of authors
• FERA - Statement from the Authors’ Group on: European Commission’s proposal for Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on “Copyright in the Digital Single Market” and European Commission proposal threatens audiovisual content in Europe and erodes cultural diversity to the detriment of European audiences 
• CISAC - CISAC calls for further measures following release of EU Commission's “copyright package”