Hi all,

The Culture and Education committee (CULT) and the Industry and Research committee (ITRE) voted today on their opinions on the EU copyright reform. These are not binding, but will be taken into account by the lead committee (Legal Affairs - JURI).

Upload Filters

Both CULT and ITRE didn't follow the sensible compromise adopted by the Internal Market committee (IMCO) and kept wording that makes platforms hosting user-generated content liable for users' copyright violations and would force them to install upload filters.

The Civil Liberties committee (LIBE) is expected to stick with the wording already voted by IMCO. Additionally, IMCO is responsible for this particular article.

Ancillary Copyright

The ITRE committee voted to extend the so-called press publishers right to academic journals (as opposed to just press publications). This means that linking or sharing short extracts of articles would require a license.

New Performers' Right

An unwaivable performers right had been proposed in CULT that caused quite a stir internationally, as such an unwaivable right is incompatible with free licenses. A compromise between the performers collecting societies and their umbrella organisation AEPO-ARTIS and Wikimedia & CreativeCommons on the other hand was forged by the Greens/EFA group and found a majority. The compromise foresees such an unwaivable right, except in the cases where a non-exclusive public license is granted.

User-Generated Content Exception

CULT also voted in favour of a non-mandatory user-generated content exception. A possible first baby-step towards a EU-style fair use system.

Without FoP and Safeguard PD

None of these two issues were included in these committee opinions. In ITRE because rapporteur and most shadows agreed that they were out of scope and in CULT because the French EPP rapporteur was forced to withdraw his FoP compromise after massive pressure from his own French delegation after IMCO passed a full FoP.

Next steps in the European Parliament

The committee opinions adopted today do influence the process, but the final say lies with the Legal Affairs committee (JURI) which is scheduled to vote on 10 October. Finding majorities there is our top priority.

Greetings,

Dimi

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