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Category: EU

EU public consultation concerning copyright with regard to EU Satellite and Cable Directive – mediation system and obligation to negotiate

First, respondents were asked (de) if they had used the existing negotiation and mediation mechanisms established under the Directive. They were invited to describe their experience. Second, respondents were asked to give their view about a possible extension of these rules to facilitate the cross border availability of online services, and they were invited to suggest any other measure that could facilitate contractual solutions and negotiations in good faith.

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Mandatory collective management regime for different forms of online simultaneous retransmissions in EU

The few consumers who have replied (de) to these questions tend to consider that the extension of the regime to the simultaneous retransmission of TV and radio programmes on platforms other than cable is likely to increase the cross-border accessibility of online services. They also tend to oppose maintaining the different treatment of rights held by broadcasting organisations. Member States/public authorities, but also right holders, CMOs and broadcasters, recall that voluntary collective management, extended collective licensing and individual licensing are all used to clear rights relevant for the different new TV and radio transmission and re-transmission methods and services. In this respect some Member States argue that voluntary approaches lead to legal uncertainty since service providers cannot be sure that they have cleared all the rights or that the distinction between transmission and retransmission is not always clear.

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EU public consultation on Satellite and Cable Directive – evaluation of existing rules applicable to clearance of copyright and related rights for the simultaneous cable retransmission.

First, respondents were asked about the existing rules applicable to clearance of copyright and related rights for the simultaneous cable retransmission. Second, respondents were asked about the impact of a possible extension of the mandatory collective management regime to different forms of online simultaneous retransmissions.

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Position of the European parliament on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure

Trade secrets are one of the most commonly used forms of protection of intellectual creation and innovative know-how by businesses, yet at the same time they are the least protected by the existing Union legal framework against their unlawful acquisition, use or disclosure by other parties.

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The economic cost of IPR infringement in the recorded music industry

Infringement of IP rights in the music sector can occur through physical or digital channels (for instance, through the purchase of fake CDs or downloading of illegal content). This sectorial study analyses the effect of piracy on the recorded music industry, independent of the format independently of the infringing good or service. Survey revealed that although citizens recognise the value of IP in principle, they tend to justify their infringements as a consequence of individual circumstances as opposed to the recognition of the principle.

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Draft second act amending the Telemedia Act: material content of the draft – requirements to service providers

The Act clarifies that WLAN operators are access providers as defined in § 8 TMG. This does not result in any changes in the existing legal position for service providers which offer access to a communications network in accordance with the TKG (Telekommunikationsgesetz, Telecommunications Act). The obligations on these service providers resulting from the TKG continue to apply. In addition, the principle which has already been developed in case-law is codified that holders of WLAN connections are not to be held liable as interferors if they have fulfilled reasonable obligations in order to prevent rights violations. The Act (de) serves to specify the requirements placed on service providers which provide access to the internet via WLAN, irrespective of whether this is for commercial purposes. If the provisions of the Act are obeyed, it is assumed that the WLAN operator has taken the precautions which are reasonable for them in order to prevent third parties from violating rights. In such cases he will not be held liable as the interferor for omission or removal and can also not be warned to desist. The stipulations mentioned in the Act can generally be fulfilled by WLAN operators. However, this does not exclude operators, in certain cases, from also being able to carry out their obligations through other reasonable means. The Act also cites various situations in which it can be assumed that the host provider will be aware of an unlawful act.

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Reasons for proposal on ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market – rights issues

Increasingly, online content services are marketed in a package in which content which is not protected by copyright and/or related rights is not separable from content which is protected by copyright and/or related rights without substantially lessening the value of the service provided to consumers.

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Reasons for proposal on ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market – access issues

Access issues of reasons containing in Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the council of Ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market.

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Reforming of copyright in EU and considered policy options – Option 4

A unitary copyright title and European Copyright Code

Option 4 would be achieved through a Regulation setting out common EU rules and replacing national legislation with a legal base of Article 118 TFEU. A single EU copyright title would be developed to replace national copyright titles. Under a unitary title, the exclusive rights would be defined as being protected in the whole territory of the EU.

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Reforming of copyright in EU and considered policy options

Summary of Impacts of Option 3b

Territoriality and absolute territorial restrictions in licensing agreements

Under the “country of origin” principle, a service provider can use the licence in its country of origin (possibly obtained from a person holding the rights in that country only) in order to actively market content outside its country of origin as well. When rights are territorially fragmented, e.g. when different persons or entities hold the rights for different Member States, a service provider established in one Member States may therefore undermine the economic position of right holders in other Member States.

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