European indies body IMPALA heads over 200 organisations from across the creative sector in urging MEPs to vote in favour of the new Copyright Directive, as the long-running legislative saga finally enters its end game.
The European Parliament is set to vote on the reworded Directive and its still-controversial Article 13 at the end of the month. That’s seen as the last significant hurdle before adoption, meaning lobbying on both sides is reaching fever pitch.
Last week, Google’s chief legal counsel, Kent Walker, made a rare public statement on the issue, saying the proposals were too “vague” and that the impact of Article 13 could see much content blocked by platforms. YouTube global head of music Lyor Cohen, however, had previously denied that the new wording favoured rights-holders.
Meanwhile, the creative industries at least seem to be speaking with one voice again – after disagreeing earlier in the process as to the best way forward. The new open letter, signed by pan-European/global music bodies IMPALA, CISAC, GESAC, IMPF and ECSA, as well as many local groups, demands that “policy-makers adopt the Directive quickly”.
Read the full text below:
“We, the undersigned organisations, representing authors, composers, writers, journalists, performers and others working in all artistic fields, news agencies, book, press and music publishers, audio-visual and independent music producers, call on the European Parliament to adopt the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.
“This Directive has been long sought to create a much-needed level playing field for all actors of the creative sector in the European Digital Single Market, whilst giving citizens better access to a wider array of content.
"This is a historical opportunity. We need an internet that is fair and sustainable for all. This is why we urge policymakers to adopt the Directive quickly, as agreed in trilogue negotiations.”
Watch this space…
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