Offener Brief der europäischen Kreativ- und Contentwirtschaft
12. Februar 2019

Historische Chance für faires EU-Urheberrecht

Der Österreichische Zeitschriften- und Fachmedienverband (ÖZV) begrüßt die Einigung im Rat der Europäischen Union zur EU-Urheberrechtsrichtlinie. Der Beschluss der Mitgliedstaaten vom vergangenen Freitag macht nach langwierigen Verhandlungen endlich den Weg frei für eine Einigung zwischen Rat, Kommission und EU-Parlament im Trilog in dieser Woche. Die europäische Kreativ- und Contentwirtschaft appelliert indes in einem offenen Brief an die Trilog-Unterhändler, diese „historische Chance“ auch zu nutzen.

Der anstehende Trilog birgt laut den europäische Kreativ- und Contentverbänden die Chance, das Urheberrecht in das digitale Zeitalter zu transformieren und somit mehr Gleichgewicht zwischen den mächtigen kommerziellen Internetgiganten und den europäischen Unternehmen, Journalisten und Künstlern herzustellen. Der offene Brief im Wortlaut:

Time to improve and adopt the Copyright Directive

Brussels, 11 February 2019

Distinguished trilogue negotiators,

We, the undersigned organisations representing authors, performers, and others working in all artistic fields, news agencies, book, press and independent music publishers urge you to work constructively to improve and to adopt the Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market at this week’s trilogue meetings

The current mandate from COREPER on Friday is a crucial step towards the Directive’s adoption, even though further improvements are needed to make the text truly meaningful for the cultural and creative sectors. This Directive has been long sought to create a necessary level playing field for all creative sectors in the European Digital Single Market, whilst giving consumers better access to more content in a secure environment.

Without the Directive, creators will be left with no guarantee of obtaining a fair remuneration online and our sectors will be subject to great legal uncertainty regarding future practices. Failing to adopt the Directive would mean missing a historic opportunity, be extremely detrimental to European culture, and also represent a fundamental failure for European policymaking.

The time has come to make the final effort to improve the text and reach an agreement at the trilogue. It is time to show that the European Union cares for its citizens, creators, values and cultural diversity and can stand up to protect them.

We trust that your thoughtful political judgment and sense of fairness will prevail to bring this legislative process to a successful conclusion.

SIGNATORIES

AEPO-ARTIS -Association of European Performers’ Organisations
CISAC – International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers
CIAGP – International Council of Creators of Graphic, Plastic and Photographic Arts
CEPIC – Centre of the Picture Industry
CIAM – International Council of Music Authors
EANA – European Alliance of News Agencies
ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
EFJ – European Federation of Journalists
EPC – European Publishers Council
EVA – European Visual Artists
EMMA – European Magazine Media Association
ENPA – European Newspaper Publishers Association
EWC – European Writers Council
FERA – Federation of European Film Directors
FIA – International Federation of Actors
FIM – International Federation of Musicians
FSE – Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
FEP – Federation of European Publishers
GESAC – European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
IAO – International Artist Organisation of Music
IFRRO – International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations
IMAGO – European Federation of Cinematographers
IMPF – Independent Music Publishers International Forum
NMC – News Media Coalition
NME – News Media Europe
SAA – Society of Audiovisual Authors
UNI-MEI – Global Union in the Media, Entertainment and Arts
WDW – Writers and Directors Worldwide