EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Neelie Kroes
Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital
Agenda
Modernising copyright for the digital age
Final Plenary Meeting of the 'Licences for Europe' stakeholder dialogue
/Brussels
13 November 2013
SPEECH/13/917
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all I would like to thank all the stakeholders who actively participated in 'Licences
for Europe'.
Both those who answered our call and put forward concrete industry-led initiatives. And
those who took the effort to set out their different points of view.
You know me by now: I am a pragmatic person. Heavy-handed legislative measures
aren't always needed, and aren't always the best solution, particularly in a fast moving
digital world.
So first you should always explore if something else is possible. We had to try it! And so
we did. You have been working for almost one year to find those pragmatic solutions and
innovative ways to boost the Digital Single Market for content. Finding solutions and
stimulating new business models is important for our economy, for growth and jobs.
And it proved to be possible! In the Audiovisual Heritage Group, representatives of the
different members share a common objective: to bring more film heritage online. And
they united round that.
That’s something of particular interest to me given my portfolio. Our film heritage is
praised worldwide and has inspired many generations of film makers. I work and will
continue to work to keep that heritage preserved and widely available to all. And I thank
and congratulate this Group for its important contribution.
It's a first step in the right direction: and in record time too. That proves that it is
possible to agree along this way among different stakeholders. Even though those
preferred legislative solutions as well, which we still don't exclude for the future.
Being Dutch I say what I stand for, I like to present things as they are, objective and
realistic. I had high expectations when we launched this dialogue in February. I had
things in mind like agreements, memoranda of understanding and similar, supported by
a broad coalition representing different interests. This has not been met. Continue
working is not enough, we need concrete tangible results.
There are however some first steps made.
For eBooks, I hope that your joint roadmap enhances access and interoperability across
borders. As the European Council notes, often systems don't work with each other, and
content isn't portable. That leads to bottlenecks and barriers in accessing your digital life
from different platforms.
On the joint statement of the audiovisual industry: I sincerely hope you will be ambitious
in getting concrete results. I can't explain to people they don't have access to their paid
content across borders in the EU. Your viewers, your customers, want more flexible
access to films and TV shows. Particular those who are mobile, or want material from
other EU countries: this is about responding to that demand. If you don't, others will. If
you wait for other players to take those opportunities first: Europe can only suffer.
I have followed with particular interest the User Generated Content and the Text and
Data Mining Groups.
For commercial use, the "small-scale" licensing through simpler ICT-based schemes
could be an improvement, making it easier to obtain a license for music.
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On User Generated Content positions are diverging, the main thing it proved is that the
world has changed. Europeans interact with creative content in a way that is itself both
often creative and usually instantaneous. They don't expect to have to ask permission to
upload their own wedding video. So it is clear that the traditional approach, requiring
prior licensing, does not fit current internet practice and behaviour. In my view, this
requires further work as part of the legislative process.
And, for me, the Text and Data mining Group has also shown something very clear. We
need to find better ways to cope with immense data flows. They affect so many aspects
of our daily lives and professional work. As the European Council put it, big data drives
innovation, improves productivity, means better quality services. And scientists in
particular can use these data flows for research, even for life-saving discoveries. They
need every possibility to do that.
I understand the proposed initiative here by publishers is not supported by the users.
And this cannot be seen as any kind of solution without agreement from that very
important group of stakeholders. Now we need to seriously consider possible legislative
exceptions.
Let me remind you of our objective: to look at whether it was possible to find pragmatic
ways round, and explore the limits of solutions based on licensing. That is exactly what
we have done.
And as we communicated last year, this is just one track of the process:
The results of this process, as well as the areas where no consensus emerged will feed
into that other track, our on-going review of the European copyright framework.
We have many tools we can use. We have to look at the bigger picture, how the
copyright legislation fits into the real world. How to adapt it to the digital age:
stimulating creativity and innovation, supporting flourishing business models, helping
industries re-invest in new creative productions and discoveries. And the same time
ensuring decent and appropriate remuneration and reward of creators, helping them
thrive in the digital age.
There is still a lot to be done. Now we have a chance to make copyright not an
obstruction, but an enabler. We have the proof now that it is possible, so let's challenge
ourselves. Be assured we will continue our preparatory work on the legislative review.
We owe it to you.
To conclude my intervention, I am glad to invite the participants of the Audiovisual
Heritage Group for a small ceremony to sign their Principles and Roadmap Document
after the next speech.
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