[A2k] EU Commission is seeking comments on a unified copyright regime

[Manon Ress]

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http://nancyprager.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/a-unified-copyright-regime-for-=
a-unified-europe/

Nancy Prager, Counselor & Attorney at Law Blog

A unified copyright regime for a unified Europe=85
Published January 4, 2008

The European Commission has launched an initiative to create a common
intellectual property standard for content on the Internet that will
apply throughout the European Union. The =93Creative Content Online in
Europe=92s Single Market=94 initiative seeks to resolve the challenges
online services face when they offer services in Europe.

Currently, for example, a service like Real Networks=92 Rhapsody must
clear every song in each EU member country. Additionally, a variety of
licensing fees are due for the performance of music on the Internet in
each individual member country. That is, if Rhapsody would have to
clear the ownership of the elements (lyrics, sound recording etc.) of
=93Born to be Wild=93 in each individual country and pay a performance fee
to the performing rights organizations of every country in which they
offer service in Europe.

The stated goals of the European Commission=92s initiative recognize
that the diversity of standards benefits neither consumers nor
innovative companies. Specifically, the the initiative will:

    1. Create a legal framework to encourage creators and owners to
make content available on line;
    2. Implement a multi-territory licensing scheme for creative
content to avoid having to comply on a country-by-country basis;
    3. Require transparency and interoperability in Digital Rights
Management systems (i.e. Apple will have to make the iPod and its
fairplay platform available to everybody); and
    4. Instigate a code of conduct between between access/service
providers, rights holders and consumers to encourage the legal access
to content to discourage unauthorized file sharing.

Additionally, according to the Commission Staff Working Document,
other issues that the Commission will address may include, but are not
limited to:

     * Broadband penetration;
     * Network Neutrality;
     * Spectrum allocation;
     * Billing and payment issues;
     * Term of copyright; and
     * Cultural diversity.

The public is invited to comment on the European Commission=92s
initiative. In the annex to the official Communication from the
Commission to the European Parliament et al on Creative Content Online
in the Single Market, the Commission sets forth the policy and
regulatory issues for which it seeks public comment. Comments are due
February 29, 2007.

END OF BLOG


More info: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
Document accompanying the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
on Creative Content Online in the Single Market
{COM(2007) 836 final}
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Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@keionline.org,

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Il vaut mieux remuer une question, sans la d=E9cider, que la d=E9cider,
sans la remuer.
Pens=E9es, essais, maximes et correspondance de J. Joubert  p.249
http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/Visualiseur?Destination=3DGallica&O=3DNUMM-88671
Translation: It is better to debate a question without settling it
than to settle a question without debating it