IMPALA DOWN WITH REVISED COPYRIGHT DIRECTIVE

IMPALA is now tentatively satisfied with the changes made to the Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market—including the Article 13 provision—during the trilogue (or tripartite) discussions this week.

The Euro indie org voiced its support on 2/14, a week after standing with other rights holders in opposition to the previous text of the directive, asserting that the revised wording had let YouTube off the hook for user-generated content.

“We need to see the final text, but this legislation will be the first time anywhere in the world that there is absolute confirmation that user upload services are covered by copyright and need a license,” IMPALA Executive Chair Helen Smith trumpeted. “In line with the WIN fair digital deals declaration adopted over three years ago, IMPALA also supports the provisions in the directive on transparency and remuneration for authors and performers.

"The EU institutions have done a great job reaching this compromise in time,” Smith added. “There are a few more steps before this reform becomes law, and we count on all sectors to unite in support of this balanced text and ensure it is finally adopted.”

The European Parliament's legal affairs committee will review the proposed text and, if it’s all kosher, put it to a vote in late March or early April. The bill is the result of two years of closed-door talks among politicians getting an earful from lobbyists from the music and tech industries.

The IMPALA missive follows a far less Kumbaya statement from YouTube, which stated, "Copyright reform needs to benefit everyone—including European creators and consumers, small publishers and platforms. We’ll be studying the final text of the EU copyright directive, and it will take some time to determine next steps. The details will matter, so we welcome the chance to continue conversations across Europe."