Proposed Modernisation of the EU copyright rules

On September 14, 2016, the European Commission published a draft Directive on copyright in the Digital single market and a draft Regulation to provide EU copyright rules with the right tools fitting the realities of the Digital Single Market.
This draft "coypright package" was published together with an explanatory Communication as well as an extensive Impact Assessment  on the modernisation of EU copyright rules.

The new rules proposed by the Commission aim to:

• Make it easier for broadcasters to enrich their online offers across borders

• Improve specific mandatory exceptions to copyright rules :

  • for education: to avoid refraining teachers from using digital materials in their activities by fear of copyright infringement

  • for research: to prevent universities from spending too much of their funds ensuring that they meet all the license requirements when text and data mining

  • for cultural heritage: to digitise billions of pages and millions of hours of audio materials from European cultural heritage institutions

  • for the blind and visually impaired people: to ensure that their access to culture is not blocked just because the format they need is not available.

• Create a fairer online environment for creators and the press. With the current rules, right holders already benefit from the use of their creation, but they have more difficulties negotiating with the online platform who will render them available to the public.

An infographic provides some figures related to the aforementioned issues.

In addition, further proposals for a Directive and a Regulation were published in order to implement the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Links to the draft Copyright Package:

• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Promoting a fair, efficient and competitive European copyright-based economy in the Digital Single Market - COM(2016)592
   

• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market - COM(2016)593
   

• Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions - COM(2016)594

• Proposed Regulation on the cross-border exchange between the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled - COM(2016)595

• Proposal for a Directive on permitted uses of works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled - COM(2016)596

• Impact Assessment on the modernisation of EU copyright rules - SWD(2016)301
   

• Executive summary of the Impact Assessment on the modernisation of EU copyright rules - SWD(2016)302

Source: European Commission website