Copyright: EPP Group calls for adaptation to new realities

Developments in modern technology create a need to adapt existing copyright rules to safeguard the interests of authors and the expectations of consumers. The EPP Group today contributed to the upcoming debate on adapting Intellectual Property Rights to the new realities of the Digital Single Market by presenting its Position Paper on Copyright.

“The EPP Group has always defended a balanced approach to copyright, because we believe it is the only way to safeguard the interests of creators and consumers. We defend legislation that would enable users to access services, but at the same time generate enough revenue for the cultural sector to finance new creations and to promote our cultural diversity and heritage,” said Esteban González Pons MEP, the EPP Group Vice-Chairman responsible for Legal and Home Affairs.

"Our aim was to address copyright challenges in our digital world together. In several meetings with various experts we worked out a holistic approach to copyright, balancing the interests of all stakeholders. Users and consumers should have broader, and where possible, cross-border access to legally-acquired online content without endangering creators and cultural diversity in Europe. Our position paper puts forward a future-oriented solution that doesn't endanger cultural and creative diversity and that will hopefully provide guidance for the upcoming work of the European Commission, who will present their initial proposal for a legislative package on copyright in December," said Sabine Verheyen MEP, EPP Group Spokesperson on Culture and Education.

“Since the creation of the printing press, copyright law has gradually evolved. What we need now is to make sure it is adapted to developments in the 21st century and that the needs of authors, rightholders and users in the digital environment are met. We need reformed copyright, not to hinder, but to boost both economic and technological growth and to broaden access to services, whilst guaranteeing fair remuneration for authors and rightholders,” said Pavel Svoboda MEP, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

The EPP Group advocates a copyright system that promotes investment and the efficient functioning of value chains between authors, creators, performers, producers, service providers, consumers and users. We are in favour of improving the portability of legal content purchased online, the establishment of more legal certainty for libraries and e-books that provides for fair remuneration for authors and publishers and access to technologies for text and data-mining of legally-acquired content under market-established licenses.