EU: Copyright Moves

On behalf of the EP’s Legal Affairs Committee, Mr Roberto Barzanti (Italy, Socialist) will this week present his report on copyright in the information society, stressing the need for an appropriate regulatory framework to be completed as a matter of urgency at an EU level, in order to maintain the traditionally high level of authors’ rights protection which has existed in Europe. In his report, Barzanti calls for a single coherent directive covering the outstanding issues of the right of reproduction, the right of communication to the public and the right of distribution. In its Communication on the Rights of Authors, the Commission states that the market for copyright goods and services makes up between 5 per cent and 7 per cent of GNP in member states and is rapidly expanding in a large number of areas such as multimedia products and software. Therefore, in the Commission’s opinion, it is necessary for additional safeguards and controls to be established in the area of copyright and related rights in the Information Society as a means of protecting artists and industry. It will shortly make concrete legislative proposals on reproduction rights; rights of communication to the public; legal protection of the integrity of technical identification and protection schemes; and distribution rights. Additionally, it is expected that further consideration will also be given to such areas as broadcasting rights; applicable law and law enforcement; management of rights; and moral rights.