About: copyright reform

German copyright bill includes upload filters, despite government’s promises
As Germany gears up to transpose the European Copyright Directive into national law by the summer of 2021, the new draft tabled by Justice Minister Christine's Lambrecht (SPD) provides for upload filters, although the government promised to do without them. EURACTIV Germany reports.
One year of EU copyright reform: Is the Internet still working?
A year ago, EU copyright law was reformed under strong protest and with a narrow majority in the EU Parliament. Germany is still working on implementation, but civil society is already preparing to fight the directive in court. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Capitals Special Edition: The Copyright Directive
The EU's copyright directive, which aims to provide legal protection and remuneration for content creators online, was adopted in April of this year and member states are now required to transpose the reforms into national legislation by June 2021. In a pan-European survey, EURACTIV has been talking to national governments to obtain an understanding on the matter.
Copyright directive ‘not in danger’ EU says, following Google backlash
The European Commission has assured those involved that the EU's controversial copyright directive is "not in danger," following Google's announcement that it will avoid renumerating content creators by implementing technical changes to the way it displays news online.
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.
EU Parliament failed to address sexual harassment, says outgoing Pirate Party star
Last week, Julia Reda of the Germany Pirate Party and most known critic of the controversial EU copyright directive, left politics altogether. The reason: allegations of sexual harassment against her former colleague and current candidate of the Pirate party for the 2019 EU elections. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Reda spoke of sexual harassment in the EU Parliament and the implementation of the copyright reform.
Copyright rules will turn the EU into a French digital colony
France, with its strict regulations of digital markets and its industries, has been allowed to drive the oppressive changes in copyright that are now about to be European law, writes Amelia Andersdotter, a former MEP for the Swedish Pirate Party.
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.
News media lobbies Merkel, Macron on copyright reform
European news media associations wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (31 January) to push for action on online copyright reform.
Ansip uncovered: Commission Vice-President on disinformation, Huawei, copyright
EURACTIV's Digital Editor, Samuel Stolton, sat down with Vice-President of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, to speak about his recent decision to stand as an MEP, disinformation, 'those' Huawei comments and the difficulties with the 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.
Updating copyright rules for news: There’s a better way
The EU Copyright directive should avoid making reforms that takes away publishers’ choices about how to distribute and make money with their content online, writes Richard Gingras.
Loopholes the size of a double-decker bus would make a mockery of the Copyright Reform
Lawmakers must ensure that the new EU copyright directive protects press publishers and their right to assert their copyright in the digital age, argues Christian van Thillo.