About: Copyrights

Leading journalists join call for EU copyright reform

Leading journalists from more than 20 countries joined a call Tuesday (27 August) for European MPs to approve a controversial media reform aimed at forcing internet giants to pay for news content.

Private copying in Spain: A slap in the face for authors

The Spanish government’s decision to limit the amount of compensation payable to rightsholders is a slap in the face to authors, as well as to the culture industry, writes Fernando Carbajo Cascón.

A troll under the digital bridge

Copyright reforms in the Digital Single Market (DSM) are a start. But digital patent reforms are inevitable if Europe wants to compete against the United States and China, writes Hosuk Lee-Makiyama.

Mr Juncker: please do not undermine authors’ rights

When it comes to intellectual property, few debates have been as fierce as the status of film on the Internet. Filmmaker Bernard Tavernier takes to task Commission initiatives to harmonise author rights in the European Union.

EU Court upholds blocking copyright-infringing websites

Internet access providers can be requested to block websites infringing copyright, the European Court of Justice said yesterday (27 March) in a historic ruling aimed at limiting online piracy.

EU countries to clash over copyright levies

EU ministers meeting in Brussels today (29 May) for the Competitiveness Council are set to clash over proposals to transform the European creative sector by reforming the continent’s fragmented copyright levy system. While France and Belgium want strong protection for authors, other countries favour a more liberal approach.

EU copyright regulation must blend IP protection with Internet freedom

Copyright and the Internet are not two incompatible concepts. Rather, they should walk hand-in-hand, writes Frédéric Donck.

EU mulls more flexible online copyright law

Internet users in Europe may be allowed to reproduce parts of some copyrighted files legally under reforms to outdated rules governing the murky world of online piracy, EU officials said yesterday (5 December).

Brussels proposes changes to EU copyright law

Following concerns over financial irregularities and difficult online licencing, the European Commission has proposed a new directive requiring copyright collecting societies to increase their transparency, efficiency and management of revenues. EURACTIV France reports.

EU drafts bill to speed up music copyright pay

The European Union will present tomorrow (11 July) a draft bill to combat music piracy and strengthen copyright protection which would force companies that manage music rights to pay artists their royalties more speedily.

Businesses plead for ‘correct understanding’ of ACTA

Considerable misunderstanding about what the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is, and especially what it is not, should be addressed before the European Court of Justice gives its verdict within two years, federations protecting copyrights told EURACTIV.

EU court rules against social networks policing the internet

Online social networks cannot be forced to block users from downloading songs illegally, as this would push up their costs and infringe on privacy, Europe's highest court said today (16 February), adding to a worldwide debate on internet policing.

Brussels warns about draft US online piracy bills

Two controversial draft bills on internet piracy and copyright protection, which are currently being examined in the US Congress, are raising concerns in Brussels with the European Commission warning about its potential consequences on Europe.

Schaake MEP: Draft US online piracy bills a ‘slippery slope’

Two controversial draft bills on internet piracy and intellectual property protection, which are currently being examined in the US Congress, are raising concerns among policymakers in the European Parliament. Marietje Schaake, a Dutch MEP, has taken up the issue and voiced her concerns to EURACTIV in an interview.

Private copy: Barnier tries to crack the nut

Talks between right-holders and makers of electronic goods will restart at the beginning of 2012 to try and find a solution to the sensitive issue of levies to compensate artists for the copying of their works.

Mediaset blames Google for TV ‘piracy’

Italian broadcaster Mediaset has warned of the threat posed by online news aggregators to the traditional business models of television broadcasters, accusing Google and similar companies of "parasitic exploitation".

Artists set to win EU music copyright battle

Musicians are likely to secure longer copyright protection of their work in Europe next week, helping artists and record labels as music revenues decline and bringing Europe closer into line with the United States.

Brussels mulls EU-wide copyright regime

In a bid to untangle the jungle of national copyright regimes and increase EU-wide access to cultural works, the European Commission is considering introducing optional single copyright protection for movies, TV programmes and other audiovisual products, according to a document seen by EURACTIV.

Barnier to endorse Spanish-style Internet policing for EU

The European Commission is contemplating making Internet providers police their networks to tackle illegal downloads, a highly contested measure which is currently being scrutinised by the European Court of Justice.

Press, consumer groups jostle over Google News, copyrights

A decision by a top Belgian court that Google News violates copyright rules has spilled over into the EU policy arena ahead of a long-awaited review of rules regulating the use of intellectual property.

EU to help music companies keep Elvis, Beatles royalties

Artists and consumer groups are up in arms as the EU comes closer to agreeing a 20-year extension of copyright on music recorded before the 1960s. Critics argue that while record companies keep their profits high, artists will lose out.

Broadcasters grappling with ‘inconsistent’ copyright laws

Existing levels of copyright protection for broadcasters are "problematic" and inconsistencies from country to country should be ended, concludes a new report by the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO).

Anti-counterfeit trade deal planned for September

Negotiators from the United States, the European Union and nine other countries said on Friday (20 August) they planned to finish work in September on a proposed pact to crack down on trade in counterfeit and pirated goods.