Musicians and publishers are set to get a financial boost after MEPs voted in favour of controversial copyright changes which were opposed by YouTube.
We welcome @Europarl_EN ‘s vote in favour of modernised rules fit for digital age. A new #CopyrightDirective designed to bring tangible benefits to citizens, all creative sectors, the press, researchers, educators, and cultural heritage institutions. https://t.co/2Pmkr6FXf6 pic.twitter.com/CZLIXPk9ua
— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) March 26, 2019
The EU Copyright Directive, approved by 348 MEPs, with 274 voting against, is designed to make tech giants pay musicians and news outlets more fairly when their work is shared online.
Justice 4 creators! pic.twitter.com/OjERQ4M5h0
— Crispin Hunt (@crispinhunt) March 26, 2019
Sir Paul McCartney and Blondie singer Debbie Harry supported the changes which would require companies like YouTube and Facebook to stop users illegally uploading their music.
Another clause passed includes new requirements aimed at making companies like Google pay licensing fees to publications, such as newspapers, whose work gets aggregated in services like Google News.
YouTube opposed
Google-owned YouTube fought a rearguard action against the changes, arguing that they infringed freedom of expression and would have a detrimental impact on creators online.
There has been a lot of disinformation around the #CopyrightDirective.
If you were taken in by slogans like “meme ban” or “hyperlink tax,” here is our blog post with fewer myths and more facts on copyright ↓ https://t.co/WhJ8Zb6pmU— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) February 14, 2019
Opponents suggested that “memes”, incorporating copyrighted material could be banned – however memes are protected as “parodies” and would not be required to be removed.
Congratulations to our fantastic members @AIM_UK @bpi_music @FeaturedArtists @IvorsAcademy @MMFUK @the_MPA @ukMPG @WeAreTheMU @PPLUK @PRSforMusic for campaigning for the Copyright Directive, backed by MEPs today, and supporting the award nominated #LoveMusic campaign!
— UK Music (@UK_Music) March 26, 2019
The music industry said the legislation would close the “value gap” which allows YouTube to pay a tiny fraction on per-stream royalties to musicians, compared to the Spotify subscription service.
‘link tax’ proposal
The publishing proposals would create a “link tax” on major websites that use other people’s content without paying for it and enforce recognition tools to “prevent the availability” of copyrighted material online.
The tax is designed to drive traffic to smaller news publishers but critics say imposing a fee to link to a website could be unworkable.
Google News and Facebook will still be able show snippets of news articles.
The proposals need final approval by the European Council next month. They would be transferred into UK law, ministers have indicated, if they are passed after Brexit.
Creators rewarded
Jean-Michel Jarre, the French musician who heads composers’ society CISAC, said the vote “confirms that the big tech companies which use creative content must be made to negotiate fairly with the creators who fill their pipes and cables with their works.”
Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation, said the vote was “a massive blow for every internet user in Europe.”
‘win-win solution’
Geoff Taylor, BPI Chief Executive, said: “This is the first legislation anywhere in the world that recognises there needs to be a better balance in the relationship between user-upload platforms and the creative community, whose content turbocharges those services.”
He said that the “value gap” in financial rewards between creators and platforms “distorts the music ecosystem and holds back the growth of the UK’s creative industries”.
Alexandru Giboi, secretary general of the European Alliance of News Agencies, said: “Creators of content have a much better chance of obtaining a fair remuneration for their work, and European citizens have also a much better chance of accessing quality content online.”
“In consequence, the new copyright legislation will prove to be a win-win solution for both the trustworthy, quality media and the public.
