Out-Law News 2 min. read

Copyright rules a barrier to EU achieving digital market potential, says EU commissioner


Copyright rules act as a barrier to cross border online trade in the EU, an EU commissioner has said.

Andrus Ansip, European Commission vice president responsible for the digital single market, said copyright laws must be updated to "make them fit for the digital age".

In a speech in Brussels, Ansip said free movement of goods and services, fair competition, a clear legal framework and easy, safe and secure online access and trade across borders represent his vision for the EU's digital economy.

However, he said copyright is one "restriction" that prevents that "vision" being achieved.

"There are still too many barriers and restrictions, which means that Europe is losing out on unexploited potential," Ansip said. "Just as an example, let me mention Europe's rules on copyright, which need to be updated to make them fit for the digital age. It is more than frustrating when you are unable to access online material – music, films, anything that you have paid good money for – when you travel to another country and find yourself blocked from doing so."

"Today's copyright rules also vary a great deal around the EU's 28 countries. There are so many national exceptions, differences and limitations that the system is not workable for a pan-European market. Copyright is just one example of a restriction holding back the full development of the digital single market," the commissioner said.

The Commission has already set out plans to "modernise EU legislation on copyright" and work on those plans is scheduled for this year. The Commission's digital economy commissioner, Günther Oettinger, who reports to Ansip, has expressed his preference for "uniform rules" on copyright to be applied across the whole of the EU.

In his speech, Ansip said that a new EU strategy for the digital single market would be outlined before the end of June this year. He said the strategy would set a five year agenda of measures designed to build trust and confidence in, and remove restrictions to, cross border online trade, among other things.

The strategy, which will include new legislative proposals, will also look into how cloud computing and "the data economy" can help to bolster business growth in Europe. It will also address the issue of digital skills and "research and innovation" in the field of information and communications technology.

Ansip said, however, that his plans for the realisation of the potential of the EU digital single market depend on the development of a new single telecoms market in the trading bloc. EU law makers are currently in the process of scrutinising planned telecoms market reforms.

"World-class networks and services to underpin the delivery of digital services across all of Europe," Ansip said. "Seamless communications and online access; fast, reliable and secure for every home and every business. Connectivity – everywhere. We need it for Europe's competitiveness and to improve the provision of public services."

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