EU commissioner slams copyright laws

COPYRIGHT has become hated by the public and is not working for artists either, according to European Union Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

On Saturday, Kroes told delegates at the Forum d'Avignon that despite millions of dollars being spent, copyright infringement is not decreasing. Meanwhile, consumers see copyright as a tool to punish and withhold, and artists are not being adequately rewarded.

She said, "Often, this debate focuses on copyright, especially enforcing copyright. But this isn't the whole story."

Kroes said the existing copyright system is not right and said, "We need to go back to basics and put the artist at the centre, not only of copyright law, but of our whole policy on culture and growth. In times of change, we need creativity, out-of-the-box thinking: creative art to overcome this difficult period and creative business models to monetise the art."

She said that for this to happen, there needs to be flexibility, "not the straitjacket of a single model," adding, "The platforms, channels and business models by which content is produced, distributed and used can be as varied and innovative as the content itself."

ICT may have the answer, Kroes said. "In all sorts of sectors, ICT can help artists connect with their audience, directly and cheaply. And it can help audiences find and enjoy material that suits their specific needs, interests and tastes."

Kroes said that cloud computing, which presents a totally new way of purchasing, delivering and consuming books, film and music, will "certainly raise new questions about how licensing should function in an optimal way".

She added, "It's not just about technology: smart legislation can help, too. We need to find the right rules, the right model to feed art, and feed artists. We need the legal framework to be flexible. The digital world changes quickly, and if allowed to do so can permit creativity in all stages of the chain. So we shouldn't prescribe a particular model, but set a framework allowing many new models to flourish."

Kroes said she accepted that some European stakeholders view the arrival of Netflix and the expansion of Itunes "with horror", but said, "We need to react, not to be paralysed by fear. Let's take chances."

It's not all about copyright, Kroes added, and "we need to stop obsessing about that".

She said, "The life of an artist is tough: the crisis has made it tougher. Let's get back to basics, and deliver a system of recognition and reward that puts artists and creators at its heart." µ