Yesterday (May 27th) Charlie McCreevy, the internal markets commissioner for the EU, reaffirmed his support for a reformed system of levies to compensate authors, composers and artists for the economic harm they suffer through private copying.
Speaking at the Centre Borschette, Brussels, he stated: “Levies are a valuable component in how we presently ensure the livelihood of the creative community. And that authors receive fair compensation for the use of their work cannot be contested.”
Mr McCreevy also expressed his desire that collecting societies and the consumer electronic industry start a meaningful dialogue and develop a “roadmap” to provide clarity and in regards to what devices are levied and by how much.
He called on both sides to “move forward and find common ground” and suggested a Forum where both parties could look at issues involving cross-border trade as well as the basis and calculation of different levies.
His words were welcomed by Stephen Navin, Chief Executive of the Music Publishers Association and Chairman of the Music Business Group [MBG], the organisation representing the collective view of those who make up the UK music industry.
Because it has no private copying exception, the UK is currently the only major European territory where artists, songwriters, composers and music producers are not compensated by those businesses that enable consumers to copy. As a result, it is still technically illegal for UK music fans to ‘format shift’ a legitimately purchased CD onto their MP3 player for personal use.
In April 2008, the MBG proposed a solution that would provide consumers with the clarity they deserve, while also adhering to the EU Copyright Directive: an exception subject to licence.
Said Navin: “We want fans to enjoy the music they have legitimately purchased in any way they see fit. However, we also see enormous value being derived by technology companies and manufacturers who enable music fans to copy. The UK music industry continues to embrace new and progressive business models every week, and we believe the UK’s creators and rights owners should be entitled to share in the value extracted from the fruit of their labours.
“We agree with Mr McCreevy that the current system of compensation could be more transparent. For the UK, instead of introducing a levy system, the MBG has suggested a licensing solution which is easily-implemented, flexible, transparent and future-proofed.”
Added Navin: “There is potential of real common ground between the Commission, the collecting societies and the technology sector. For the UK, we believe a licensing-based solution could prove agreeable to all parties, and look forward to dialogue and discussion in the coming months.”
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The Music Business Group represents the collective view of those who make up the UK’s music industry – composers, songwriters, performers, managers, producers, record labels, music publishers and their collection societies.
