COPYRIGHT DIRECTIVE A DONE DEAL

Member states of the European Union gave final approval to the Copyright Directive on Monday in Brussels. The agreement follows more than two years of legislative process, numerous drafts and determined lobbying on the part of YouTube, which now bears legal responsibility for user-generated content uploaded to the platform.

Under the new regulations, Google-owned YouTube, Facebook’s Instagram and other sharing platforms will be required to install filters to prevent users from uploading copyrighted material.

The next step involves the implementation of the directive at the national level.

As usual, IMPALA Executive Chair Helen Smith was ready with a quote. “It was a long road, and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the discussion,” she said. “As a result, we now have a balanced text that sets a precedent for the rest of the world to follow, by putting citizens and creators at the heart of the reform and introducing clear rules for online platforms.

“By adopting this landmark text,” Smith continued, “the EU has proved itself a leader in terms of delivering a fair, open and sustainable Internet. This text clarifies the position of platforms, building on European case law. It is a first of its kind, and sets an example for other countries across the globe.”