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
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/04/another-fine-mess-ustr-has-gotten-us-misguided-plan-expand-performers-rights>
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