COPYRIGHT DIRECTIVE MOVES FORWARD 

A compromise version of the EU Copyright Directive has sailed through its second to last hurdle in Parliament, after being approved by the European Parliament Legal Affairs committee by a majority vote of 16 in favour and 9 against.

After a brief disruption when a concerned group of 10 orgs, ranging from the IFPI and IMPALA to England’s Premier League, called for the text to be stalled, there appears to be consensus on a compromise version. IMPALA has since voiced support of the text, and today UK Music has welcomed amendments to Article 13.

A statement reads: “In relation to Article 13, we welcome the fact that the compromise text clearly establishes that Online Content Sharing Service Providers should not be entitled to avoid the need to secure licences from rightsholders. As has been widely reported, the text of this Article in particular has been the subject of fierce and passionate debate and the final result includes a number of compromises.

“With this in mind, we ask the EU Council and MEPs to support the Directive. We call on individual member states to ensure that the Copyright Directive, if successfully adopted, is implemented in a way that achieves its original purpose and benefits the whole of the industry.”

In addition, a number of authors’ organizations, including The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA), said: “Today’s vote sends a positive and historical signal to all citizens who want to write, compose, create and be fairly remunerated for their work.”

The final stage will take place in late March when all Members of the European Parliament will vote to formally adopt the Directive.