Cc-uk mailing list

[David M.Berry <d.berry AT sussex.ac.uk>]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24414

Online music copyright laws out of date: EU

THE EUROPEAN Commission is looking at how it can streamline online
music copyright laws throughout Europe.According to a paper being
released today, the Commission thinks that the current copyright
system is too complex with Byzantine laws that slow the distribution
of music down.


Music copyright: Commission proposes reform on Internet licensing

The European Commission has published an in-depth study on how
copyright for musical works is licensed for use on the Internet. It
concludes that present structures for cross border collective
management of legitimate online music services -- that are based on
models developed for the analogue environment -- need to be improved
for music to fulfil its unique potential as a driver for Internet-
based services. Action is now required at EU level because revenue
achieved with online content services in the US is ten times bigger
than online content revenue produced in the EU. As music pervades
European culture and society, only music has the real potential to
kick-start online content services. The Commission proposes options
to remedy this situation as only music has the real potential to kick-
start online content services in Europe in line with the Lisbon agenda.


EU Report: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/copyright/ 
management/management_en.htm