Copyright Across Borders: Bitesize summary of the EC communication on copyright

16.09.2016

On 14 September 2016, the European Commission published a communication proposing a Directive regarding the promotion of a fair, efficient and competitive European copyright-based economy in the Digital Single Market.

In summary, the proposals in the communication focus on three main priorities:
• Better choice and access to content online and across borders.

o The portability of online content across borders should be facilitated by a legal mechanism for broadcasters to obtain licences and permissions from rights holders more easily through collective management organisations, negotiation bodies and licencing hubs.

• Improved copyright rules on education, research, cultural heritage and inclusion of disabled people.

o Educational establishments should be allowed to use materials for teaching through digital tools and in online courses.

o Researchers should be able to use text and data mining technologies to analyse large sets of data.

o Cultural heritage institutions should be allowed to preserve works digitally to ensure the survival of cultural heritage.

o Accessible format copies of works should be available for disabled people to ensure that copyright does not act as a barrier to equal rights and access for all citizens.

• A fairer and sustainable marketplace for creators, the creative industries and the press.

o A new right for publishers is proposed to protect the rights in press publications online, reflecting the shift of newspapers, magazines and other publications from print to digital.

o Video sharing platforms should deploy technologies to detect unauthorised publication of protected works and publishers should be transparent and inform rights holders of the profits made from their works.