Copyright remains one of the most effective engines for safeguarding the creation, production, dissemination and digitalisation of cultural content. Despite this potential, very few local and regional public authorities responded to the European Commission's consultation on EU Copyright, which ran between 2013 and 2014. So, is copyright an issue for Europe's regions and cities?
According to Mauro D'Attis, European Committee of the Regions rapporteur for a modern, more European copyright framework, the answer is definitely yes.
"We believe that public institutions at the local and regional level should be able to offer modern services, which take advantage of today's digital transformation. However, we must also ensure that Europe's diverse, living cultural heritage is sufficiently protected in a simple, but flexible way. Promoting the right conditions for everyone will require a careful balancing act in our work on copyright legislation, at all levels of government."
Citing two specific examples of how EU copyright proposals will affect the local and regional levels, D'Attis highlights the potential of text-and-data mining for regional research institutes and universities and remote consultation through the digitalization of libraries.
"Both of these tools offer great potential for users, but they also need further examination to ensure concerns about data privacy, potential use of data and competition with traditional publishing are met. With education, academia and research being predominantly local or regional competences, and with our representatives being close to business, institutions and citizens on the ground, it is important that the Committee of the Regions' voice will be heard in this challenging policy area."