Global Policy Committee Convenes Legal & Policy Experts in Paris

The Global Policy Committee (GPC) met in Paris on 30 September The agenda included the approach to ISPs as well as transfer of value. The latter saw an in-depth review of the new developments by the EU in regards to the “value gap” presented in the “copyright package” proposal by the European Commission, which was released in September.

The Audiovisual Campaign for Screenwriters and Directors, which calls for a universally applied, unassignable and unwaivable remuneration right, was discussed shortly thereafter.

Aside from Europe, another pressing matter in collective management organisations focused on North America with the United States Department of Justice decision on the ASCAP/BMI consent decree, as well as the recent BMI court ruling. The Songwriter Equity Act and the USCO report on “The Making Available Right in the US” also shined the spotlight on policy in the United States.

Topics regarding the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) closed the GPC, focusing on TAG, WIPO Connect and norm-setting activities at the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR).

The committee saw the re-election of SACEM Secretary General David El-Sayegh as Chair and BMI’s John Coletta as Vice-Chair of the committee.