Members of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group (CCFG) in the European Parliament released yesterday a video in support of the implementation of article 18 of the 2019 Copyright Directive calling on Member States to implement the article in a meaningful way. The European Parliament who has fought hard in support of article 18 during the legislative process, will closely monitor the implementation of this provision.

Performers have been granted a right to appropriate and proportionate remuneration and Member States have to introduce into their national law the necessary measures in order for this provision to be effective.

According to AEPO-ARTIS and its members, this can be achieved in terms of on demand uses via an unwaivable remuneration right, paid by platforms and administered by performers’ collective management organisations. This is a mechanism already in operation in Spain, where it has delivered a fair share of revenues for performers without any negative impact on consumer prices or business practices. This mechanism has also been supported by leading academics (see here).

Cultural Creators Friendship Group – CCFG on Article 18 of the Copyright Directive – YouTube

Performers’ organisations welcome European Parliament’s CCFG call to the European Commission and Member States to ensure an effective implementation of article 18 EU Copyright Directive guaranteeing the fair remuneration of authors and performers for the use of their work on streaming services

Today’s open letter of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group of the European Parliament sends a strong signal to the European Commission and the Member States. It confirms that the European Parliament stands fully behind article 18 of the 2019 Copyright Directive, which aims to provide performers with a proportionate remuneration for all online exploitations of their fixed performances, including from on demand use.

The FAIR INTERNET coalition strongly welcomes this open letter which is available here: CCFG Open Letter

Member States, who are now implementing this provision into their national laws, should not limit such implementation to a mere verbatim of article 18 of the 2019 Copyright Directive. They must make sure that the objective of the article is met.

Compliance with the spirit and objectives of article 18 depend entirely on the measures that Member States will put in place. They must create a sustainable streaming market, where performers are fairly and proportionately remunerated. The FAIR INTERNET coalition believes that the introduction of an unwaivable remuneration right, managed by performers’ CMOs and paid by digital platforms, constitutes an option that is simple, efficient and fully in line with the EU acquis.

It is crucial that Member States ensure that the 2019 Copyright Directive results in an actual improvement of the situation of performers. The status quo is not an acceptable!

 

The FAIR INTERNET coalition statement is available here: FAIR INTERNET coalition statement

For further information please contact:
Nicole Schulze
+32 487 25 09 51