September 19, 2016

As outlined above, the European Commission has published its Digital Single Market copyright reform proposals, including a Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market.

The proposed Directive, alongside a Regulation on copyright in relation to the online transmission of broadcasters, represent the European Commission’s efforts to modernise the copyright framework in order to further realise the European Digital Single Market.

PRS for Music notes that, in announcing the publications, President 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 is enabling some online platforms, specifically user upload services, to generate vast revenues without fairly remunerating the creators, upon whose works their services depend, PRS for Music says.

In response to today’s publications, PRS for Music Chief Executive, Robert Ashcroft, 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 rights holders. 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 rights holders. The European Commission’s proposed new copyright Directive provides the framework for this essential legal clarity”.  To read PRS for Music’s press release, click here.