Gestern Nacht wurden die Trilog-Verhandlungen zur geplanten EU-Urheberrechtsreform abgeschlossen. Herausgekommen ist dabei unter anderem ein Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger, das große Ähnlichkeit zur deutschen Regelung hat, aber noch größeren Schaden anrichten wird. Noch kann dies verhindert werden! Weiter

Today, the final report of the so-called Cairncross review was published. It thoroughly looks at how to sustain the production and distribution of high-quality journalism in the UK. In doing so, some interesting points regarding an ancillary copyright for press publishers are raised.

This independent review was conducted by Dame Frances Cairncross who was supported by an advisory panel. When it comes to Article 11 of the currently discussed draft directive on copyright, she concludes:

There are grounds for worrying that the implementation of Article 11 in the EU may backfire and restrict access to news. (p. 69)

A bit further, she states:

The experiences in Germany and Spain suggest that, overall, the snippets of publishers' content included on platforms' websites encourage more readers to go to publishers' websites, rather than discourage them (because, for instance, the information they read on the platform is all they need). Put more succinctly, a platform's aggregation service is complementary to a news publisher’s direct provision, rather than a substitute. (p. 70)

Finally, she rejects the option of demanding payment for the news that appears in the online platforms' news feeds. One of the reasons for this recommendation is that:

[...] Google News in particular - might refuse to show any publisher's content. Even if the platforms were merely to scale back their aggregation, this could cause significant harm to people who want to see news, and (as in Spain) to smaller publications. The general public seems to appreciate news aggregation services, and might resent their removal. (p. 92)

The Romanian Council Presidency still tries to reach a compromise with the Member States on the planned directive on copyright reform. Meanwhile, more and more influential rightholders are now denying their support, putting additional pressure on politicians.

Rejection from large parts of the media industry

Yesterday alone two open letters from the creative industry (here & here) have reached the EU negotiators from the Commission, Council and Parliament. The signatories include heavyweights such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and Film Distributors Associations (FIAD). In their letters, they completely reject the current draft directive's suitability for achieving the objectives it is supposed to pursue. Therefore, the unequivocal demand is that there should be no directive rather than a bad one.

Additionally, it also became public yesterday that Bertelsmann, one of the world's largest media companies, is now rejecting the planned directive as well. Spiegel-Online reports that behind the scenes attempts are being made to persuade MEPs to reject the reform.

Journalists demand equal treatment

In addition, the journalists seem to have finally noticed that they were only being tied up in front of the carts in order to strengthen the interests of others. In a press release published today, both the European and the International Federation of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ) vehemently oppose the current draft directive and, in particular, Article 11, which is intended to contain an ancillary copyright for press publishers.

Anyone who previously thought that journalists and press publishers would fight side-by-side for this new right has now been taught better. Both parties have pursued completely different interests from the very beginning. However, the gap between them has never been as wide as it is now.

Only press publishers left

As a result, a large number of those who were supposed to benefit from the Copyright Directive now reject it altogether and demand it to be buried. Only the major press publishing houses have not yet denied their support. They still seem to cling to the misconception that a new law would solve their financial problems. Looking a little closer, however, the first hit has already been taken, since Gruner + Jahr, one of the largest publishing houses in Europe, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann.

 

Die rumänische Ratspräsidentschaft versucht weiterhin, sich mit den Mitgliedstaaten auf einen Kompromiss für die geplante Richtlinie zur Reform des Urheberrechts zu einigen. Währenddessen versagen immer mehr einflussreiche Rechteinhaber ihre Unterstützung und üben damit zusätzlichen Druck auf die Politik aus. Weiter

The trilogue negotiations on the upcoming copyright Directive are still stuck. EDRi has taken this opportunity to send out an open letter to the negotiators that not only we but also numerous international and Europe-based organisations have co-signed. Weiter

Representatives of the Member States in the European Council have not yet managed to reach a compromise. The trilogue negotiations are therefore continuing to drag on indefinitely. That gives cause for hope. Weiter

Vertreter der Mitgliedstaaten im Europäischen Rat haben es bisher nicht geschafft, sich auf einen Kompromiss zu einigen. Die Trilog-Verhandlungen ziehen sich damit auf unbestimmte Zeit weiter in die Länge. Das gibt Grund zur Hoffnung. Weiter

Originally, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council wanted to finalise the text of the planned Copyright Directive by the end of 2018. However, this goal was clearly missed so that negotiations were resumed last week. Weiter

Eigentlich wollten die Europäische Kommission, das Europäische Parlament und der Europäische Rat den Text der geplanten Urheberrechtsrichtlinie noch 2018 finalisieren. Dieses Ziel wurde jedoch deutlich verfehlt, sodass die Verhandlungen vergangene Woche wieder aufgenommen wurden. Weiter

The many years of discussion and numerous court proceedings concerning the German ancillary copyright law for press publishers are likely to come to an abrupt end shortly. In his opinion, the Advocate General at the European Court of Justice declared the relevant provisions inapplicable. Weiter

The last trilogue negotiations for this year between representatives of European Parliament, European Commission and European Council took place last week. Again, an overall agreement could not be reached. Weiter

Die langjährigen Diskussion und zahlreichen Gerichtsverfahren, die um das deutsche Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger geführt werden, dürften in Kürze ein jähes Ende finden. Der Generalanwalt beim Europäischen Gerichtshof hat in seiner Stellungnahme die entsprechenden Vorschriften für unanwendbar erklärt. Weiter

The European Commission, Council and Parliament are still negotiating the exact wording of an ancillary copyright for press publishers that will most likely be part of the upcoming EU Directive on copyright. If you have not yet heard about this new right or only a little and if you want to learn more about it, then Pamela Samuelson, who is the Richard M. Sherman Distinguished Professor of Law at Berkeley Law School, has just written the perfect article for you. Weiter

Representatives of the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament are currently negotiating a compromise solution for the new Copyright Directive. Unfortunately, it can be assumed to be certain that this Directive will contain an ancillary copyright for press publishers. However, the exact wording is not final yet. The devil is in the detail as the Parliament's proposal shows. Weiter

In der aktuellen Ausgabe des "Wirtschaftsdienst" resümiert Dr. Till Kreutzer, wie sich die EU-Politik in Sachen Leistungsschutzrecht vor den postfaktischen Lobbyzug der Presseverlage hat spannen lassen: mit Gefühlen und Lügen für ein neues Recht, das nach eigener Aussage Qualitätsjournalismus sichern und damit Fake News bekämpfen soll.

Today, the European Parliament held its second vote on copyright in the digital single market and it took the worst possible outcome. Amendments to delete article 11 altogether or to alter it into a rule of legal presumption were rejected by a large majority. Instead, MEP Axel Voss's latest proposal for an ancillary copyright for press publishers was adopted. The same goes for his proposal that aims to introduce upload filters in the EU. Weiter

Heute hat das Europäische Parlament seine zweite Abstimmung über das Urheberrecht im digitalen Binnenmarkt abgehalten. Dabei ist das denkbar schlechteste Ergebnis herausgekommen. Änderungsanträge, Artikel 11 insgesamt zu streichen oder in eine Vermutungsregel umzuwandeln, wurden mit großer Mehrheit abgelehnt. Stattdessen wurde der jüngste Vorschlag von MdEP Axel Voss (EVP, Deutschland) für ein Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger angenommen. Gleiches gilt für seinen Vorschlag zur Einführung von Upload-Filtern in der EU. Weiter

Although summer break has just ended, the next important vote at EU level is already coming up. Members of the European Parliament must agree on a common position on the proposed copyright reform. A key role here is played by MEP Axel Voss (EPP, Germany), rapporteur on the JURI Committee, who despite all criticism is unwilling to back away from his proposal. Weiter

Kaum ist die Sommerpause vorbei, steht auf EU-Ebene schon die erste wichtige Abstimmung an. Die Mitglieder des Europäischen Parlaments müssen sich auf eine gemeinsame Position zur geplanten Urheberrechtsreform einigen. Eine zentrale Rolle spielt dabei MdEP Axel Voss (EVP, Deutschland), zuständiger Berichterstatter im Rechtsausschuss, der trotz aller Kritik nicht bereit ist, von seinem Vorschlag abzurücken. Weiter

Before the summer break in Brussels and Strasburg had officially ended, members of the European Parliament got hit by the latest lobbying campaign by press agencies and publishers. With blatant lies and twisted truths they once again called on MEPs to support the widely discussed ancillary copyright for press publishers. Supporting arguments based on actual facts are absent just like they have been in the past. Weiter

Die Sommerpause ist noch nicht richtig zu Ende, da rollt schon die nächste Lobbykampagne der Presseagenturen und Verlage über die EU-Parlamentarier hinweg. Erneut versuchen sie, mit Lügen und kruden Behauptungen Stimmung für ein Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger zu erzeugen. Sachliche Argumente hingegen sucht man erneut vergeblich. Weiter

In July 2017, the European People's Party (EPP) had adopted a joint position that fully endorses the Commission's plan for the introduction of an ancillary copyright for press publishers (link tax). But this has not changed the fact that party members are against this new right and actively try to prevent it. With MEP Svoboda, a very influential one has publicly renewed his criticism. Weiter

It was only two weeks ago, when the JURI Committee had finally adopted its report on the upcoming copyright reform. Today, it was rejected by the majority of the European Parliament that withdrew MEP Axel Voss's negotiation mandate. An important step on the way to prevent the EU from causing severe damage to the free flow of information. Weiter

Eine, wie sie selbst schreibt, "ungewöhnliche Allianz" wendet sich mit einem Offenen Brief an die Abgeordnetinnen und Abgeordneten des Europäischen Parlaments. Darin werden sie von Vertreterinnen und Vertretern parteinaher netzpolitischer Vereine eindringlich gebeten, gegen den Beschluss des JURI-Ausschusses zu stimmen. Weiter

Last Wednesday on June 20, the European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) voted on the Commission's proposal for a new copyright directive. Unfortunately, the ancillary copyright for press publishers as stipulated in article 11 was adopted with only little suggested changes. But it looks like this has not been the final vote yet. Weiter

Today at 10:48, the JURI Committee of the European Parliament has adopted the compromise amendment of rapporteur MEP Axel Voss (EPP, Germany) concerning article 11 with a 13:12 majority. All amendments calling for its deletion have thus been rejected. Now there is only the plenary of the European Parliament that has the power to overturn the plan of introducing an EU-wide ancillary copyright for press publishers. The fight for a free internet is not over!

Heute um 10:48 hat der Rechtsausschuss des Europäischen Parlaments (JURI) den Kompromissvorschlag von Berichterstatter MdEP Axel Voss (EVP, Deutschland) bzgl. Artikel 11 mit einer Mehrheit von 13:12 angenommen. All Änderungsvorschläge, die eine Streichung von Artikel 11 bezweckt hatten, wurde damit zurückgewiesen. Nun liegt einzig am Plenum des Europäischen Parlaments, die Pläne zur Einführung eines EU-weiten Leistungsschutzrechts für Presseverleger zu kippen. Der Kampf für ein freies Internet ist noch nicht vorbei!

With the ancillary copyright, some publishers want to get a digital money printing machine from politicians – soon also at the EU level. How did we come to this? Weiter

Jeden Mittwoch erscheint Sascha Lobos Kolumne für SPIEGEL Online, in der er sich ein ums andere Mal mit hochaktuellen digitalpolitischen Themen auseinandersetzt. In seinem jüngsten Text befasst er sich mit den Plänen für ein EU-weites Leistungsschutzrecht für Presseverleger. Lobos Fazit findet sich gleich in der Überschrift: "So ein Quatschgesetz." Weiter

In eight days, the Legal Affairs Committee will finally vote on its compromise amendment for the upcoming copyright directive. This will be followed by the whole plenum of the European Parliament voting on a common position. Your and everybody else's internet freedom is at stake. Act now, get in touch with your MEP and #SaveYourInternet. Weiter