EU

EU proposals could see news publishers paid by Google and Facebook 

News publishers would have stronger rights to demand payment from digital giants such as Google and Facebook in exchange for using their content, under proposed European rules that are designed to shore up the collapsing revenues of traditional media companies.

The measures are part of a series of reforms that the European commission plans to put out to consultation in September. They are designed to strengthen the rights of those who create and invest in original content, from authors and musicians to record labels, broadcasters and publishers.

Source: EU proposals could see news publishers paid by Google and Facebook | Technology | The Guardian

An ethical Google won’t break the internet, leaked EU report finds 

Making Google a good corporate citizen and pay creators fairly won’t break the internet, a leaked impact study on copyright suggests. The 200 page impact assessment (IA), leaked to Statewatch, addresses the thorny issue of content sharing platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

“Some online service providers refuse to negotiate any agreement, which means that despite the availability of copyright protected content on these platforms no revenues are generated for right holders for the use of their content. Refusals of agreements have above all been reported by right holders in the music and images sectors. At the same time, some online service providers have argued that right holders have requested terms that they considered unreasonable for the type of service they provide,” it notes.

It urges the platforms to be more positive about using filters to weed out infringing UGC.

Source: An ethical Google won’t break the internet, leaked EU report finds • The Register

Flak for Europe copyright plans

The media and sports industries are opposing the European Commission’s plans to change copyright law to make more films, sports and TV shows available online throughout the 28-nation bloc.

In its plans for a “digital single market” the commission wants to make broadcasters’ online transmissions more easily available across borders, but that risks diluting the licensing value of content and undermining the way films and TV shows are financed, lobbyists say.

Source: Flak for Europe copyright plans | Europe | BDlive

SESAC and SUISA join forces for transatlantic licensing solution

The initiative is in response to the European Commission’s wish for cooperation among music rights organisations to enable users to negotiate licenses with as few companies as possible.

The multi-territorial platform will offer single source licenses for reproduction, distribution and performance rights for both SUISA and SESAC’s repertoires, as well as those of music publishers seeking to license their catalogues across Europe and beyond – which SESAC hopes will be music to the ears of digital service providers such as YouTube, Apple and Spotify.

Source: SESAC and SUISA join forces for transatlantic licensing solution – Music Business Worldwide

Brexit Is “Major Blow” to Film, TV Industries 

Film and television producers worry the Brexit will create uncertainty and could unravel much of the financial infrastructure the independent industry relies on.

“The decision to exit the European Union is a major blow to the U.K. film and TV industry,” said Michael Ryan, chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance in a statement. “This decision has just blown up our foundation – as of today, we no longer know how our relationships with co-producers, financiers and distributors will work, whether new taxes will be dropped on our activities in the rest of Europe or how production financing is going to be raised without any input from European funding agencies. The U.K. creative sector has been a strong and vibrant contributor to the economy – this is likely to be devastating for us.”

Source: Brexit Is “Major Blow” to Film, TV Industries – Hollywood Reporter

Britain Votes to Exit European Union: Musicians and Celebs React 

A victory for so-called Brexit campaigners sees the U.K. depart from the 28-state economic and political union, which was formally established in 1993.

For the music industry, the outcome of the national vote carries huge consequences and has the potential to impact on everything from touring to record sales to copyright legislation. One thing is certain: the industry will be dealing with a new national leader by October. In the hours after the nation’s votes were counted, the prime minister David Cameron announced his resignation.

Source: Britain Votes to Exit European Union: Musicians and Celebs React | Billboard

MPAA Boss: Europe’s Geo Unblocking Plans Threaten Movie Industry 

chris_doddIn a keynote address at the CineEurope convention this week, MPAA Chairman and CEO Chris Dodd described the unblocking goals as a threat to the movie industry. Encouraging participants to reach out to their representatives, Dodd described the concerns as “real, very real.”

“While the stated goals of these proposals are laudable – offering greater choice to European consumers and strengthening cultural diversity – in reality, these ideas could actually cause great harm to Europe’s film industries and its consumers,” Dodd said. “What particularly concern me are proposals that would threaten the practices of territorial licensing and contractual freedom. These practices have long served as the financial bedrock of Europe’s film industries.”

Source: MPAA Boss: Europe’s Geo Unblocking Plans Threaten Movie Industry – TorrentFreak

Rocking the Rights-Tech Boat in a Safe Harbor

Any day now, according to the scuttlebutt in copyright policy circles, the U.S. Copyright Office could release its findings from its study of Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ordered up last year by the House Judiciary Committee, which is conducting a review of the DMCA and U.S. copyright law in general. Along with those findings, the Copyright Office is widely expected to offer recommendations to Congress for changes to the 512 “safe harbor” provisions, including perhaps replacing the current “notice-and-takedown” rules with a “notice-and-staydown”
requirement.

European Lawmakers Urge Tightening of Safe Harbor Exemptions

Fifty-eight members of European Parliament have signed on to a letter urging the European Commission to protect rights holders by clarifying the status of YouTube and other services that operate under safe harbor laws.

“Despite the fact that more creative content is being consumed today than ever before, on services such as user-uploaded content platforms and content aggregation services, the creative sectors have not seen a comparable increase in revenues from this increase in consumption,” the EMP’s letter reads. “One of the main reasons is being referred to as a transfer of value that has emerged due to the lack of clarity regarding the status of these online services under copyright and e-commerce law.”

Source: European Lawmakers Urge Tightening of Safe Harbor Exemptions | Billboard

To Brexit, or Not to Brexit: For the British Music Industry, There’s Little Question

For the music industry, the outcome of the national vote — which polls suggest remains tightly split between those for and against a British exit, dubbed Brexit — carries huge consequences and has the potential to impact on everything from touring to record sales to copyright legislation.

“A victory for Brexit would be economically, politically, socially and culturally disastrous — for all of us,” reads a joint letter from Beggars Group founder Martin Mills and Universal Music U.K. chairman and Chief Executive David Joseph, urging staff and colleagues to vote for staying in the E.U..

Source: To Brexit, or Not to Brexit: For the British Music Industry, There’s Little Question | Billboard

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