copyright
MEPs rebuke European Patent Office over conventional breeding copyright
In another episode of the longstanding legal saga on biotech inventions, the European Parliament delivered a new reprimand to the European Patent Office (EPO) reaffirming that tomatoes, broccoli and other plants obtained by essentially biological processes must not be patentable.
Censorship fears linger as copyright directive overcomes final hurdle
A "censorship of the internet" could be in store as a direct result of the EU's new rules on Copyright protection, a Polish government minister said on Monday (15 April), as EU member states approved the controversial plans after more than two years.
MEPs back historic plans to overhaul copyright law
The European Parliament backed historic measures to reform EU copyright law on Tuesday (26 March) in a move set to have a far-reaching impact on rights for content creators and artists across the continent.
EU copyright reforms pit creative industry against internet activists, consumers
Europe’s creative industries are urging EU lawmakers to back a proposed overhaul of the bloc’s copyright rules, putting them at odds with internet activists who oppose a requirement to install filters to block copyright material. The European Parliament is due to vote on the controversial plans today (26 March).
Copyright MEP in bomb threat scare
German police are investigating the Bonn office of Axel Voss, the MEP leading the controversial copyright directive through the European Parliament, after he was the subject of a bomb threat last week, German media are reporting.
Copyright reform: A Visegrád analysis
EU institutions concluded negotiations on the Commission’s controversial copyright reform earlier this month. Political clashes that emerged across the EU also exposed harsh divisions between the Visegrád group of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. EURACTIV's Visegrád members report.
Copyright debate nearing end as MEPs rubber stamp plans
EU copyright rules are on the brink of a radical overhaul after lawmakers in the European Parliament's legal affairs committee provisionally backed plans on Wednesday (26 February) recently agreed with EU ministers.
EU countries back copyright reforms aimed at Google, Facebook
European Union countries on Wednesday (20 February) endorsed an overhaul of the bloc’s copyright rules which would force Google and Facebook Inc to pay publishers for news snippets and filter out copyright-protected content on YouTube or Instagram.
Deal struck on copyright reform after ‘intense’ negotiations
The future of online copyright is set to be radically transformed as Parliament and Council negotiators struck an agreement on the controversial Copyright Directive on Wednesday (13 February) evening, over two years after the measures were first introduced by the Commission.
EU countries agree on copyright reforms, deal in sight next week
The European Union’s effort to rewrite two-decade old copyright rules to take into account online platforms such as Alphabet Inc’s Google moved a step forward on Friday (8 February) when a majority of member countries agreed on a common position for talks with lawmakers next week.
Copyright: ‘France has completely won the discussion,’ says MEP Reda
Ahead of a crunch meeting between EU ambassadors on Friday (8 February), EURACTIV Slovakia sat down with Green MEP Julia Reda to chew the fat over the controversial copyright directive.
Copyright directive faces further setback as final trilogue postponed
The controversial EU copyright directive faces a further setback after the final inter-institutional negotiations set to take place on Monday evening (21 January) were cancelled on Friday.
Copyright directive faces tough test as EU ambassadors meet
EU ambassadors convene on Friday morning (18 January) to try and reach a provisional deal on the controversial copyright directive ahead of final "trialogue" talks next Monday (21 January). Meanwhile, lobbyists in Brussels ramp up their opposition against the bill.
Protecting journalism is not synonymous with protecting the interests of big press publishers
The review of the EU Copyright Directive must ensure that publishers, regardless of their size, equally benefit from this reform, writes Carlos Astiz.
Benifei: Embed blockchain in copyright reform
Blockchain technology can provide a win-win-win between the fight against censorship, verified traceability of digital artworks, and a fair remuneration for its creators. The copyright reform debate is a good opportunity to embed blockchain and create a better regulatory framework, argues Brando Benifei.
EU copyright directive means trouble for our startups
Startups in Europe can only be successful if they have solid rules in the online space. But in an attempt to limit the power of tech giants, the European Union risks hampering the next generation of European startups too, writes Lenard Koschwitz.
Fillon’s former deputy backs controversial copyright reform
The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture, usually a staunch defender of authors’ rights, has proposed a series of new exceptions to the copyright reforms under development at EU level. Rapporteur Marc Joulaud is a former deputy of François Fillon and employer of his wife Penelope. EURACTIV France reports.
Juncker to announce €200 billion extra funds in ‘State of the Union’ speech
Energy and digital infrastructure projects are expected to receive a further €200 billion funding boost under plans to be announced today (14 September) by the President of the European Commission in his State of the Union address.
The Trade Secrets Directive: What it does – and does not – mean
In the three years it was debated in the European Parliament, the recently-adopted Trade Secrets Directive generated no small amount of controversy and myths. EURACTIV France attempts to separate fact from fiction.
190 tonnes of illegal pesticides seized by Europol
Around 190 tonnes of illegal pesticides have been discovered at airports and harbours in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, Europol on Friday (18 December). EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Commission wants consumers to access digital content when they travel
The European Commission proposed a new regulation today (9 December) to allow residents of the EU to access legal digital content when they're traveling outside the country they live in.
Kraftwerk kraut-rocked by court copyright fight
Germany's highest court was examining today (25 November) a case that erupted 18 years ago over a German hip hop artist's two-second sample of a tune by electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk.
Copyright reform: Oettinger open to Spanish ‘Google tax’ model
EU Digital Commissioner Günther Oettinger said that he prefers Spain's controversial ancillary copyright law on Tuesday (14 July), sometimes nicknamed a 'Google tax', to the German model.