KatsBits Community

General Category => Blog => Topic started by: kat on March 23, 2019, 09:18:21 AM

Title: European Commission on the Copyright Directive, Article 11 & Article 13
Post by: kat on March 23, 2019, 09:18:21 AM
Recently the European Commission posted to Medium (https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission)[1] about the finalising steps of the European Parliaments Copyright Directive, Article 11 and Article 13 in particular, but pulled it shortly after publication citing "We have removed this article as it has been understood in a way that doesn’t reflect the Commission’s position.".

What's interesting about this having happened is that the original text actually provides a fairly accurate summary of the situation content creators find themselves in, one that essentially has their content being unreasonably exploited commercially, as the case is being made, without what might be considered, adequate compensation (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=1006.0) from those doing the exploiting, that's YouTube, Google, Facebook and other BigTech platforms.

The article also correctly voiced concerns over the discussion being astro-turfed, redirected or hijacked by disingenuous grass-roots campaigns created and promoted by the same platforms who have far greater reach than any Government[2]. Whilst some of the language, the way the core idea was expressed, might be a little off (to say the least), backlash to which prompting the removal, the overall point being made is an accurate summary of the situation creators face.

With all that said, this does NOT mean the European Copyright Directive, Articles 11 (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=996.0) and 13 (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=995.0), are the right way to solve the problem, they are simply not, especially so when National and Supra-National Government (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=1006.0) has its own political and ideological agendas and inculcation's to answer to.

To be VERY clear about this, the writings about the Copyright Directive here on KatsBits are NOT in support of the these types of poorly realised legislative solutions to this particular problem.

Further Reading
- Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=995.0)
- Article 11 of the EU Copyright Directive (link tax) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=996.0)
- Article 13 draft proposed amendments (Sept 2018) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=995.msg4819#msg4819)
- EU Directive on Copyright - Article 11 (link tax) & Article 13 (content filter) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=997.0)
- Voluntary Copyright Alert Program (Vcap) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=860.0)
- Its a Terms of Service violation, not Copyright dispute (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=862.0)



Footnotes:
[1] The full article text of the article is included below for convenience to the topic of discussion (archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20190216094123/https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission/the-copyright-directive-how-the-mob-was-told-to-save-the-dragon-and-slay-the-knight-b35876008f16));
Quote
For those of you, who don’t know nor care about what the Copyright Directive is nor any of the articles within it, look away now.

Take this test: Type in 'EU Copyright directive' into the search box in Youtube. The majority of results in the top 20 will be passionately against it. Here’s some of the headlines, if you’re not sure: 'Shocking update on the Copyright Directive.' 'Today Europe lost the Internet' 'How the new copyright laws will destroy the internet’ 'Censorship machines', 'EU to end the internet' or 'Europe to ban all memes'.

Of course, we know from recent elections and referendums that simple memorable slogans - however untrue or unobtainable - can go a long way to winning over hearts, minds and voters. And so it was, that the wholly inaccurate phrases 'link taxes' and 'censorship machines' started to be part of the campaign against the proposed Copyright Directive. Never let the truth get in the way of a catchy slogan.

The idea behind the Directive is to bring copyright rules into the 21st century. The current rules are very analogue and designed for the world before the web. Things have changed. Search and social media platforms largely define the way we enjoy content today, but their market dominance has now tilted the balance in their favour and away from those who design and create original things.

As it stands, big internet platforms such as Facebook or Google make a lot of money from ads that appear on their sites alongside copyrighted material such as music or clips. The more people view, the more money platforms can earn from those adverts.

Just as Google and Facebook are being rewarded financially for all their hard work in producing amazing software, clever algorithms and exciting designs, we think authors, film-makers, journalists and musicians should also be rewarded for their endeavours too. At the moment the balance of power in who gets paid for such royalties resides overwhelmingly with the big Californian companies - who are worth around $1 Trillion.

The Copyright Directive is an attempt to create a level playing field where everyone can gain from the amazing options that the new technologies offer. Musicians, artists, video producers and the whole creative sector will benefit by having a fairer negotiating position.

Journalists and online publications will have more money to keep on financing quality research and news. Despite what you might read, the Copyright directive supports a free press and could enable journalists to get some money when their articles are shared online. Good journalism costs money and without a free press there is no democracy.

Fair remuneration for and from the platforms and a fairer market place is what we want. We cannot achieve a real European digital single market which makes us all better off, if copyrighted material is misused or poorly remunerated. Because if creative people don't get paid, they can't afford to be creative. No Mon = No Fun.

Just like everyone else, the EU loves culture, cinema, art and music. We have no intention in restricting young people's access to all these wonderful things on - or offline. Oh and by the way, no matter what some people (and paid-for campaigns) may tell you, you will never be prevented from having a laugh online. WE ARE NOT BANNING MEMES. On the contrary, there will be a guarantee that platforms respect your right to self-expression. That includes pastiche, critique and parody.

Nonetheless, it appears as if the largest search and video platforms in the world are afraid of regulation -  despite having overwhelming dominance on the internet.

Furthermore, there is ample evidence from respected sources, here and here and perhaps here or here or indeed here that 'Big Technology' has even 'created' grassroots campaigns against the Copyright Directive in order to make it look and sound as if the EU is acting against the 'will of the people'.

That's another myth. Unlike Google and Facebook, the EU is answerable to the public and to democratically elected politicians. Member states - through the Digital Single market - aim to make it easier and cheaper for European consumers and companies to surf, trade, study and work digitally in the EU.

As with most EU legislation, the text must be agreed by a majority of member states and voted upon by MEPs in the European Parliament.

So next time, when you get a sponsored message on your timeline, which says something like 'the EU will kill the world wide web as we know it', stop, pause and consider for a moment. Ask yourself: Cui Bono? Who really benefits from this message or this wider negative campaign?

Do Google, Facebook or others really need to pay to persuade?

Are we in a world where ordinary people side with the fire breathing dragon against the knight with a blue and yellow shield?

If you care, think before you share.

For fewer myths and more facts, why not click here or here or perhaps here or even here.
[2] By the numbers;
- European Population = c.750 million.
- Facebook = c.2.25 billion/c.1.5 billion daily (https://newsroom.fb.com/company-info/).
- Instagram = c.1 billion monthly, c.500 million daily users (https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/20/instagram-1-billion-users/).
- Android = c.1.5 billion devices (2017) (https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/02/26/1point5-billion-smartphones-were-sold-in-2017/), c.2 billion users.
- Google = c.1 billion daily active users (estimate).
- Apple = c.1.3 billion active devices (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/02/apple-reports-first-quarter-results/), c. 500 million users.