The CRM Directive

Press Release
Brussels, 4 February 2014

Today, the European Parliament adopted with an overwhelming majority (640 votes to 18, with 22 abstentions) the Directive on Collective Management of Copyright. This follows the agreement of the Trialogue in late 2013 and several years of intensive discussion on the issue and in particular on digital cross-border licensing of copyright for musical works.

GESAC, on behalf of the 33 societies it represents across Europe, welcomes this adoption of the Directive by the European Parliament. The Directive highlights the key role of collective management organisations (CMOs) in negotiating deals with licensees and securing fair remuneration to creators. It aims at setting European wide standards of transparency and governance, which are essential to ensure that relationships with rightholders and users are based on confidence.

GESAC has welcomed the CRM Directive from the beginning of its legislative journey. The completed text confirms the crucial role that author and rightsholder members play in overseeing the operations of their societies. It also sets a legal framework that accompanies the development of the online market for the cross-border use of music and the solutions already provided by CMOs to organise rights clearance in a manner that is efficient for users and respectful of rights holders’ interests.

CMOs are producing innovative solutions to assist the development of the online market both in the form of simplified licensing offers and in international collaborations driving greater efficiency in data management and better access to content. Common technical solutions and licensing hubs are examples of CMO leadership in this area. These solutions are crucial to swifter market development, and they offer up access to greater numbers of repertoires encouraging business users to access to the full range of creative content produced throughout the European Union.

GESAC regrets however that the opportunities to guarantee cultural diversity were not taken as necessary, since it is uncertain whether all repertoires will be offered by digital services on a pan-European basis.

GESAC General Manager Véronique Desbrosses commented, “This process has sparked the political interest for collective management and how CMOs contribute to economic growth and continuous cultural creation in the EU. Authors’ societies lead the way to meet the needs of the online market and are essential to ensure that authors and rights holders are adequately paid”.

——————————————————-

In the EPP’ press release, Rapporteur Marielle Gallo (FR) commented: “What the EU digital single market really needs is to put aside ideology and find solutions to clearly-defined concerns over copyright. This is what we did and this is the reason why we clinched a deal that everybody, from the UK Conservatives to the Pirate Party, can support. Copyright is not a burden but an asset for the European economy. And with today’s vote, we have clearly shown that it is definitely compatible with the digital era and can adapt to it”.

Press Release Brussels,
26 November 2013

The European Parliament’s JURI Committee has today approved the Collective Rights Management Directive. This follows the agreement of the Trialogue earlier this month and marks a significant step towards the Directive being formally adopted early next year. GESAC, on behalf of the 33 societies it represents across Europe, welcomes the agreement on the Directive by the JURI Committee.

The Directive highlights the key role of collective management organisations (CMOs) in negotiating deals with licensees and securing fair remuneration to creators. It aims at setting European wide standards of transparency and governance, which are essential to ensure that relationships with rightholders and users are based on confidence.

GESAC has welcomed the CRM Directive from the beginning of its legislative journey. The completed text confirms the crucial role that author and rightsholder members play in overseeing the operations of their societies. It also sets a legal framework that accompanies the development of the online market for the cross-border use of music and the solutions already provided by CMOs to organise rights clearance in a manner that is efficient for users and respectful of rights holders’ interests. CMOs are producing innovative solutions to assist the development of the online market both in the form of simplified licensing offers and in international collaborations driving greater efficiency in data management and better access to content. Common technical solutions and licensing hubs are examples of CMO leadership in this area. These solutions are crucial to swifter market development, and they offer up access to greater numbers of repertoires encouraging business users to access to the full range of creative content produced throughout the European Union. GESAC regrets however that the opportunities to guarantee cultural diversity were not taken as necessary, since it is uncertain whether all repertoires will be offered by digital services on a pan-European basis.

GESAC General Manager Véronique Desbrosses commented, “This process has sparked the political interest for collective management and how CMOs contribute to economic growth and continuous cultural creation in the EU. Authors’ societies lead the way to meet the needs of the online market and are essential to ensure that authors and rights holders are adequately paid”.

Press Release
Brussels, 8 July 2013

Today, the European Parliament gave its opinion on the CRM Directive (vote in JURI Committee on the report of Mrs Gallo).

The European Parliament rightly recognised the need for cooperation between authors societies in the music sector so as to allow for re-agregation of repertoires for cross border online exploitation of musical works  and the necessity for small and medium sized repertories to access the market under the same conditions as the big repertoires. In doing so, the European Parliament is giving a clear signal to Member States and to the EU Commission to improve the text under the forthcoming trialogue negotiations.

On the other hand, by opening the door to external lawyers and agents into the general meetings of authors societies, the European Parliament distorts the specificities of those societies that are formed, controlled and managed by the authors themselves. We urge the EU institutions to restore and guarantee the central role of creators in decision making of their societies.