European Rightholders Welcome New Private Copying Mediator

We are very pleased that such a high profile person has been appointed which sends a strong signal as to the importance of the issue at stake.

As has been re-iterated many times before, the right holders are very much open to discussion on this issue and regret the time that has been lost since the premature closure of the previous dialogue in early 2010.

We are ready and willing to constructively contribute to the discussions in the New Year.

Background

According to the Copyright Directive (Directive 2001/29/EC), the exclusive right to reproduce sound, visual or audiovisual material belongs to authors, performers and producers. However, Member States may authorise private copying on condition that the rightholders receive ‘fair compensation’. Such fair compensation must help to ensure that rightholders receive appropriate remuneration for the use of their works or other protected subject-matter.

Private copying remuneration is the sum paid on different types of devices and media which is supposed to provide compensation to creators and rightholders for the private copying of their works for personal use.  The European Court of Justice has recently clarified provisions of national private copying legislation and it underlined that the right holders have a right to be fairly compensated for such reproductions.

About AEPO ARTIS

The Association of European Performers' Organisations, AEPO, was founded in Brussels on 20 May 1994. AEPO-ARTIS represents 30 European performers’ collective rights management societies from 23 countries. Combined, these societies have in excess of 350,000 performing artists (such as musicians, singers, dancers, actors) as members and manage the rights of some 400.000 performers in Europe. www.aepo-artis.org

About Eurocopya

EUROCOPYA is the European Association of Audiovisual & Film Producers’ collective management societies. EUROCOPYA notably represent all European producers’ right collecting societies active in the field of private copy remuneration, notably in Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Poland. www.eurocopya.org

About GESAC

Created in December 1990 in the form of an EEIG (European Economic Interest Grouping), GESAC groups 34 of the largest authors' societies in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. As such, GESAC represents around 700.000 authors or right holders in the area of music, graphic and plastic arts, literary and dramatic works, and audiovisual as well as music publishers. www.gesac.org

About IFPI

IFPI represents the recording industry worldwide, with a membership comprising some 1400 record companies in 66 countries and affiliated industry associations in 45 countries. IFPI's mission is to promote the value of recorded music, safeguard the rights of record producers and expand the commercial uses of recorded music in all markets where its members operate. www.ifpi.org

About IMPALA

IMPALA was established in 2000 at the initiative of prominent independent labels and national trade associations. IMPALA's mission is to grow the independent music sector, promote cultural diversity and cultural entrepreneurship, and modernise the perception of the music industry. IMPALA has over 4,000 members including top independents and national associations across Europe. www.impalamusic.org

About SAA

The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) is an association of European Collective Management Societies representing audiovisual authors. Through its members (25 societies in 18 countries) SAA represents over 120,000 film and television European screenwriters and directors. More information www.saa-authors.eu