News

FUN   It’s a great way for people to enjoy creative works.  And, as the major role of authors’ societies is to make an increasing number of creative works available to an increasingly broader public, we support this 100%!

CHOICE   It gives access to a repertoire that has never been larger.   From the most popular artists to ‘niche’ repertoires, all can be accessible to everyone in a click!

CONNECTIVITY   The internet brings authors and their audiences from all around the world close together.

OPPORTUNITY   The internet offers new and innovative business models for all types of music and other creative content, growing the licensing possibilities author societies can offer and therefore the streams of revenue open to all authors, not just a famous few.

EFFICIENCY     Good, reliable data on creative works and how they are being used, facilitated by the internet, is indispensable for managing the rights associated with them. Efficient management means more revenue for authors and composers.

ENGAGEMENT   Rightholders can get more involved with their audiences, as the Internet offers potential opportunities for new innovative models and creation of their works, knowing that their society ensures the protection of their rights and value of their works

CONVENIENCE   The internet makes the administration of rights easier and more interactive.  Online tracking of revenues or participating electronically on governance decisions affecting their societies is becoming more and more a reality for authors

TRANSPARENCY   Users of music can research online to see which licensing model is best for them and members of authors’ societies can see how well their society has performed over the past months and years.

PROGRESS   The internet seamlessly connects creators, consumers and businesses, creating a virtuous circle of economic, social and cultural activity.

Everybody loves the internet!

Nowadays, a lot of talk goes on at EU-level about the practice of collective rights management and the work of author societies in general, especially in light of the Collective Rights Management Directive proposal that came out in July.  

Although it’s vitally important for both creators and cultural diversity in Europe, collective rights management can seem complicated! To clarify the issue – and demonstrate how it works in practice – here is a case study of how one particular European author society approaches collective rights management.

Recently Digital Europe, representing some of the world’s largest technology and ICT companies, announced proposals to shift their private copying responsibilities and suggests that private copying compensation be moved to governments and other public funds.

European creators, represented by the organisations below, strongly oppose this suggestion which has no legal or other justification and is an attempt to shift the burden and ask public funds to pick up the bill.

It is difficult to see how such a move could be justified, especially in times of austerity and considering that most European countries already have functioning private copying schemes in place.

The disastrous effects of a “state-fund” system can be seen in Spain, where €5 million from the public budget is replacing the previous private copying scheme, slashing creators’ remuneration by over €110 million, while the prices of devices have not gone down.

The alternatives proposed by Digital Europe would cut the link between the act of making private copies and the payment of remuneration to rightholders, in contradiction with EU law and case-law, according to which it is for the natural persons benefitting from the exception to finally compensate rightholders for the private use made of their works.

The proposal comes at a time when former Commissioner Mr Vitorino is busy at work on a dialogue designed to improve how private copying works. Creators’ organisations are involved in this dialogue, alongside technology and ICT companies.

Creators’ organisations are concerned that this latest development could be a sign that the whole mediation process is being hijacked and that technology and ICT companies seem to be walking away from improving the system.

Co-signatories: