Activities of Antanas GUOGA related to 2014/2256(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the implementation of Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
Amendments (14)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the appoincommitment of twohe Commissioners who will work on further developing the EU digital agenda and, including copyright issues in the course of the new Commission mandate; welcomes the Commission Work Programme for 2015 insofar as it promises to deliver a Digital Single Market Package which includes the objective of modernising copyright rules;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the appointment of two Commissioners who will work on further developing the EU digital agenda and copyright issues in the course of the new Commission mandate; welcomes the Commission Work Programme for 2015 insofar as it promises to deliver a Digital Single Market Package which includes the objective of modernising copyright rules to make them fit for the digital age;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that Directive 2001/29/EC (Infosoc Directive) was adopted in 2001 and that the digital use of material subject to copyright has changed and dramatically increased since then; highlights the need for the Commission to respond to technological developments and adapt current laws to economic realities;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the fact that legislative differences in Member States cause legal uncertainties hindering the creation of Digital Single Market and cross-border accessibility of copyright content;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recognises the need for more harmonisation at the European Union level in order to improve free movement of services and products based on creative content;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that copyright and related rights play an important role, as they protect and stimulate both the development and marketing of new products and services and the creation and exploitation of their creative content, thereby contributing to improved competitiveness, employment and innovation across several industry sectors in the EU, therefore any harmonisation of copyright must be taken at a high level of protection;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that copyright and related rights can play an important role, if they acknowledge the changes of behaviours of users, as they protect and stimulate both the development and marketing of new products and services and the creation and exploitation of their creative content, thereby contributing to improved competitiveness, employment and innovation across several industry sectors in the EU;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises the need to ensure appropriate remuneration and to protect the rights of all categories of right holders in a better way; recalls that while the cultural and creative industries (CCI) employ more than seven million people and contribute 4.5% of EU GDP annually,are a significant source of employment, and according to the European Parliament's Cost of Non-Europe study 223 000 jobs will be created by the digital single market by 2020 and that even though the services, technologies and options permitting the general public to access creative works grow every day, the earnings of right holders in the CCI sector keep decreasing;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises the need to ensure appropriate remuneration and to protect the rights of all categories of right holders in a better way; recalls that while the cultural and creative industries (CCI) employ more than seven million people and contribute 4.5% of EU GDP annually, and that even though the services, technologies and options permitting the general public to access creative works grow every day, the earnings of right holders in the CCI sector keep decreasing; notes that effective system for the protection of copyright is necessary to ensure the return of the investment required to produce copyright works;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the fact that Member States’ provisions on copyright and related rights vary considerably, and that the exclusivity which copyright grants its owner is, in principle, limited to the territorial boundaries of the Member State where the right has been granted, which leads to market fragmentation and major divergences in enforcement across the EU;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that territorial fragmentation may require users aspiring to offer content- related services across the EU to secure multiple licenses; emphasises the fact that differences in limitations and exceptions create additional legal costs and legal uncertainty; recalls that consumers may be denied access to certain content services on geographical grounds; therefore urges the Commission to propose adequate solutions for the better cross-border accessibility to copyright content for consumers;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes, therefore, the adoption of Directive 2014/26/EU on collective rights management and multi-territorial licensing of rights, and believes that implementation of this directive will lead to a clearer set of EU-wide standards resulting in a faster and more flexible licensing infrastructure; notes however that fragmentation still remains and further legislative action is required, including harmonisation of exceptions, which are necessary for the completion of the digital single market;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Commission to promote a flexible and balancpose an harmonised framework for exceptions and limitations that does not cause any harm to right holders and, that conforms with consumer expectations, that fosters both creativity and innovation, and adapts to the technology advances in the digital environment; emphasises the important role that exceptions and limitations agreed on for public-interest reasons, for the purpose of education and teaching, play in providing access to knowledge as well as in encouraging cultural and societal participation; urges the Commission and the Member States to consider e-books as part of public lending schemes, provided that all necessary agreements with the relevant right holders have been reached beforehand;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the structured stakeholder dialogue ‘'Licenses for Europe’', launched by the Commission in 2013; believes that relevant stakeholder engagement and sharing of best practices is essential if a more homogenous implementation of copyright laws across the EU is to be reached; calls the Commission to monitor and report on the implementation of the Licenses for Europe' pledges;