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Was there any discussion of free-licensing government-created works?
This seems like a worthy objective that doesn't adversely affect any
commercial interests (which is the main roadblock to most copyright
reform).<br>
<br>
Ryan Kaldari<br>
Wikimedia Foundation<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/6/12 2:49 PM, Dimitar Parvanov
Dimitrov wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAK4vM4SF1LqfmNeAgif2vWHSPp9UY=fdKg7cgcoRZoJ+Sg_x7Q@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Hello again, <br>
<br>
since this is a mailing list and no one really wants to read long
stories I will try to recap the day and the positions in a
nutshell. It was basically a meeting with a long speech by the
Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier and a
short speech by conservative MEP Marielle Gallo.<br>
<br>
<br>
Barnier naturally started how this was this beginning of the
process of legsilative process, how they are open to discuss
everything and work with everyone. Of course he didn't miss to
stress how important the creative industry is to the economy, and
while the internet has brought a lot of positives (like giving
more people access to quality content) but also a lot of problems
(it doesn't cover the investments that authors, editors and
production companies have to make to create the content)<br>
<br>
About the <b>legislation strategy</b>: <br>
<ul>
<li>Let the industry and stakeholders find solutions themselves.</li>
<li>Be prepared to legislate wherever necessary. Review the
"society and information" directive from 2011 if needed.</li>
</ul>
<br>
His <b>vision</b> of copyright has three major points:<br>
<ol>
<li>Make it easier for Europeans to access their <b>cultural
heritage</b>. Here the project Europeana and the Orphan
Works Directive (which doesn't allow commercial use, thus
Wikimedia can't profit from it) are mentioned as positive
projects.</li>
<li>Make it possible for Europeans to access content across the
single market. <b>Remove geographically limited licenses</b>
within the EU, since the EU is a single market and such
geographical limitation are illegal for other products. <br>
</li>
<li>Reform copyright in a way to <b>allow</b> <b>authors to
earn an</b><b> income </b>and attracts investment in the
creation of quality content. <br>
</li>
</ol>
<br>
Worth mentioning is that he stressed several times that he is not
ideologically burdened and open to any exceptions and
propositions, <b>even exceptions in copyright</b>. <br>
<br>
Here the position of MEP Gallo was the absolute opposite as she
stressed that she is not talking of adapting the copyright itself,
but the way it works. <br>
<br>
Back to the Commission, they have started an initiative they call
"Licensing Europe", which should start a dialogue that lasts until
the end of 2013 to come up with very specific solution to cope
with the legitimate frustrations of consumers, companies and
citizens. The Commission has identified six questions around which
the debates should be structured:<br>
<br>
<ol>
<li>Cross-border portability of content services.</li>
<li>Online access to audiovisual works.</li>
<li>Digitalisation and access to European films.</li>
<li>The judicial insecurity regarding the reuse of content
online. Consideration of one-click policies.</li>
<li>Questions raised by new search technologies and data mining.
<br>
</li>
<li>The private copying levies. To wait for the<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/barnier/headlines/speeches/2011/11/20111123_en.htm">
mediation process by Antonio Vitorino.</a></li>
</ol>
<br>
Until New Year the Commission will draw up all the modalities for
the "Lincensing Europe" initiative so the process can start in
2013. <br>
<br>
In the Q&A there were quite some interesting questions (some
from the Pirate Party) which didn't really lead to interesting
answers. The Commissioner is clearly hoping for some technological
solutions for the copyright problems, but is open to other
proposals. The question about law enforcement when it comes to
copyright was ducked by referring to the broader picture and that
any enforcement need to demonstrate values that are felt as
legitimate. <br>
<br>
<br>
Sorry for boring you, but reading this is your choice :). For
those who are still awake some gossip from the corridors:
Apparently the three Commissioners (Internal Market, Digital and
Culture/Education) are a bit competitive about who should have the
leading role. It is not clear yet who will dominate. For us it
would naturally be best to have the latter two, as Barnier is more
market oriented, while Vassilakou focuses on culture and
education. <br>
<br>
I will until January try to come up with a set of
ideas/proposals/demands, that can hopefully be discussed in the
Wikimedia movement (especially the European chapters) and lead to
a united and strong position early on in the legislative process.
Let's make sure this time we are involved throughout and have
real chance of input. I believe after ACTA blew up the Commission
will be much more willing to listen and cooperate. <br>
<br>
Best,<br>
Dimi<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
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