A strong copyright system will unlock Europe’s creative industries, says ALCS

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) has called on European policy makers to support creative innovation in the digital age by providing a fair and robust copyright framework.

Responding to the European Commission Green Paper Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries ALCS highlights a role for government in establishing measures to curb the illegal use of copyright works, while facilitating the creation of partnerships that provide for  legitimate access:

“There is a clear need for government to support industry efforts to create new models. This applies to new commercial offerings, but also to innovative licensing schemes designed to provide digital solutions for accessing works for research and education.”

Greater uniformity in the application of European remuneration schemes for the private use of content is also called for by ALCS. The consultation response states:

“Given the proliferation of new digital devices and services resulting in greater individual flexibility to copy and share works, it seems clear that some sort of pragmatic compensation system will continue to be relevant and necessary. Private copying fees provide an important source of funding across the creative and cultural sector; we feel that, though challenging, the Commission must continue to seek a transparent, standard to apply equally to this activity across the whole Community.”     

Furthermore, ALCS identifies the need for greater harmony in the way that creators’ personal rights are enforced:

“The digital environment provides many new routes for the dissemination of works across Europe, however the legal rules offering direct protection for an authors’ name and the integrity of their work - moral rights - are applied inconsistently throughout the Community.

“If Europe is to develop innovative business models that support a borderless online environment, greater uniformity in the application of moral rights should be seen as a necessary part of this new framework.”

As well as the promotion of a fair rights framework within Europe, ALCS would also like to see more focus on initiatives to improve awareness of creators’ rights and the impact on them of the illegal use of content.

The full ALCS consultation response can be read at: Response to European Commission Green Paper: Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries

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