PRS for Music has welcomed the European Commission's copyright reform proposals, stating that it hopes they will provide the 'opportunity to establish a functioning, digital single market' for the benefit of creators, consumers and music platforms.
The European Commission has today (14 September) published a suite of proposals, including a Directive of the European Parliament and Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market.
The proposed directive represents the European Commission’s efforts to modernise the copyright framework in order to further realise its European Digital Single Market aims.
In announcing this morning’s publications president Jean-Claude Juncker said 'artists and creators are our [Europe’s] crown jewels', going on to say 'I want journalists, publishers and authors to be paid fairly for their work'.
PRS for Music has championed the case for copyright reform to address the ‘transfer of value’ resulting from the ambiguity in the current legal framework. This ambiguity enables some online platforms, specifically user upload services, to generate vast revenues without fairly remunerating the creators, upon whose works their services depend.
In response, Robert Ashcroft, PRS for Music chief executive, said: 'PRS for Music welcomes the Commission’s recognition of the critical ‘transfer of value’ issue and we acknowledge the clear intention to redress the current imbalance of interests between user upload platforms and rightsholders.
'The law must clearly establish that those user upload platforms that provide search and other functionality, as distinct from being mere hosts of content, require a license from rightsholders. The European Commission’s proposed new copyright Directive provides the framework for this essential legal clarity.'
He added: 'Europe is our largest export market and, even outside of the European Union, its copyright framework will directly impact UK creator’s earnings. Therefore, we hope that the EU Parliament and Council will grasp this opportunity to establish a functioning, digital single market - as this is in the interests of all concerned: creators, consumers and platforms, new and established.'
Earlier in the year, Ashcroft used his address at the collecting society's Annual General Meeting to share his views on the ongoing dysfunction within Europe’s digital music market and call on all members to support positive change at legislative level.
Read an abridged version of the full speech.
Related:
EC proposes 'fairer digital marketplace' for creators
The European Commission has today (14 September) published a suite of proposals, including a Directive of the European Parliament and Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market.
The proposed directive represents the European Commission’s efforts to modernise the copyright framework in order to further realise its European Digital Single Market aims.
In announcing this morning’s publications president Jean-Claude Juncker said 'artists and creators are our [Europe’s] crown jewels', going on to say 'I want journalists, publishers and authors to be paid fairly for their work'.
PRS for Music has championed the case for copyright reform to address the ‘transfer of value’ resulting from the ambiguity in the current legal framework. This ambiguity enables some online platforms, specifically user upload services, to generate vast revenues without fairly remunerating the creators, upon whose works their services depend.
In response, Robert Ashcroft, PRS for Music chief executive, said: 'PRS for Music welcomes the Commission’s recognition of the critical ‘transfer of value’ issue and we acknowledge the clear intention to redress the current imbalance of interests between user upload platforms and rightsholders.
'The law must clearly establish that those user upload platforms that provide search and other functionality, as distinct from being mere hosts of content, require a license from rightsholders. The European Commission’s proposed new copyright Directive provides the framework for this essential legal clarity.'
He added: 'Europe is our largest export market and, even outside of the European Union, its copyright framework will directly impact UK creator’s earnings. Therefore, we hope that the EU Parliament and Council will grasp this opportunity to establish a functioning, digital single market - as this is in the interests of all concerned: creators, consumers and platforms, new and established.'
Earlier in the year, Ashcroft used his address at the collecting society's Annual General Meeting to share his views on the ongoing dysfunction within Europe’s digital music market and call on all members to support positive change at legislative level.
Read an abridged version of the full speech.
Related:
EC proposes 'fairer digital marketplace' for creators
