European Commission Communication On Copyright Online

The European Commission on 19 October published a communication on copyright in the knowledge economy that sets out the plan for changes in European copyright over the coming month and in 2010. Three issues the Directorate General Internal Market and Directorate General Information Society want to tackle are: preparation of a EU-wide legal instrument on orphan works (under copyright but owner not found); new ways to facilitate mass digitisation projects by libraries; and better access to information for visually impaired people. For the latter topic, a forum with stakeholders is to be set up by the end of this year, according to the communication. While exemptions seem to be a focal point of the plan, the Commission also underlines that intellectual property rights have to be better protected to foster innovation. The copyright reform plans are part of a more general IPR strategy outlined last week by Margot Froehlinger, director for knowledge-based economy of the Internal Market Directorate General (IPW, EU Policy, 15 October 2009).

Link to communication page here.

Link to Commission press release here.

Separately, European music providers, collecting societies and network providers reached a short agreement on how to more easily distribute music online. Document here (pdf).