CISAC calls for further measures following release of EU Commission's “copyright package”
Paris, France – 14 September 2016 – CISAC - the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers – acknowledged today that the “Copyright Package” released by the European Commission is a good starting point towards addressing the unfair situation for creators in the digital market. CISAC also called European institutions to take further measures to secure fair remuneration and a better future for creators online.
The “Copyright Package” contains a new proposal for a Directive on Copyright in Digital Single Market that tackles the issue of transfer of value. Also referred to as the “value gap”, the transfer of value is the market distortion created by the use of copyright works by online intermediaries without properly remunerating the creators. The new EU proposal recognises the role and obligations of online services in the digital market and calls on them to take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of creative works.
CISAC Director General Gadi Oron commented: “Europe is waking up to the global community of creators calling for urgent action to secure a fairer digital market. The proposal is a step in the right direction but additional steps are required to ensure creators receive fair remuneration and to prevent abuse of the existing legal framework by online intermediaries. We are looking at the European Parliament and the Member States for more significant action towards a better future for creators in the digital marketplace.”
CISAC President Jean-Michel Jarre declared: “The European Commission has made an effort to respond to the chorus of voices calling on government support to address the unfair situation in today’s digital market, where major players are using the works of creators to generate colossal revenues without fairly remunerating them. In Europe, given its great richness of talent, European institutions bear the responsibility in protecting its creative community and securing a better future for new generations of creators.”