Local and regional authorities support better access to online goods and services for consumers and businesses alike. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) rapporteur on the modernisation of EU copyright rules, Arnoldas Abramavičius, therefore advocates cross-border portability and adequate flexibility for consumers on one hand and the respect for the creative and commercial value of the content, on the other. Finding a balanced approach to copyright, which ensures the interest of both the creators and consumers, was a priority for the CoR's Commission for Social policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC), which met in Brussels yesterday.
In today's digital world, it is increasingly necessary to facilitate a licensing agreement that allows cross-border access to content. The European Commission proposals have an impact on local and regional authorities, which often provide digital services for citizens and are responsible for creating and managing digital infrastructure. "Cities and regions also have a key role to play in boosting the development of good quality services and ensuring a balanced harmonisation of copyright rules for example by creating public information databases, providing data security, developing the necessary digital skills, securing and facilitating funding for broadband networks and creating the right environment for the trans-regional and cross-border exchange of online services" Councillor Abramavičius stated during his introduction to the topic.
Safeguarding innovation and intellectual creation, notably through an effective protection of copyright and related rights, is also important from a cultural point of view. This is a major priority for regional economies given that cultural and creative industries employ more than 7 million people and contribute 4.5% of the EU's GDP annually with a high growth potential. "Given local and regional authorities' direct responsibility for managing the cultural heritage and supporting creative industries, including EU polices under the Creative Europe and Horizon 2020 programmes, they should be included among cultural policy-makers in the EU" CoR members agreed.
To conclude, the rapporteur highlighted that the proposed Regulation directly affects a significant number of contracts. He would therefore like to see the deadline to amend the relevant provisions to be extended from 6 to 12 months, in order to achieve greater conformity. Looking further ahead to the further exceptions to be presented in 2016, he advocates taking another look at the doubts surrounding text and data mining and the competition risks that could be created from remote consultation.
The SEDEC Commission concluded the debate with the adoption of the draft opinion, which will be presented by Arnoldas Abramavičius at the April Plenary Session.
