For critics, it’s the end of freedom of expression in the network: The European Parliament adopted the controversial copyright reform. The legislators want to adjust the law to the digital age.
Until recently it was not clear whether a majority in the plenary session of the EU-would come to pass Parliament. The Commission had agreed to the Directive, as the member countries of the EU. At last, however, even the proponents were not sure whether the copyright reform would be a success.
In the end the result was clear. 348 deputies voted for the amendment, which is to adapt copyright to the conditions in the digital market. 274 held against it. The European Parliament in Strasbourg has decided that This part of the Internet is regulated with all the associated consequences.
Ahead of the vote was preceded by a heated debate in Parliament – a last attempt by the opponents of the Reform to fend off. At the forefront: Julia Reda of the pirate party. The leader of the opponents of Reform appealed to their colleagues in the Parliament to the Directive in the Form submitted, by: “This would only be devastating for the freedom of the net. It is also a whole Generation of would be robbed of the confidence that the policy works and that this Parliament represents the interests of the population.”
Pirate party politician Julia Reda, the leader of the opponents of Reform in the EU-Parliament
The public pressure had risen in the past couple of weeks. At the weekend, Europe had gone far, around 200,000 People on the road. Many of them in Germany. A Petition on the platform Change.org today more than five million supporters. Never has there been so great a resistance to a planned EU Directive.
The approach of the Reform is largely uncontroversial: authors such as artists and rights holders such as publishers, should be appropriate to the revenue of the Internet services involved, if your products end up in the net.
Fear of censorship in the network
Ensure the article 17, which is an earlier version than article 13 of the known prepares. Including the control that companies such as Google or Facebook are responsible for ensuring that the rights holders of Videos, photos and music that users upload to platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram, are adequately compensated falls.
After that, each content would have to be checked, and in the absence of the Right to be locked before it can be viewed on the net. In order to provide the fear is that opponents of Reform will use the company’s upload filter. These programs are intended to detect illegal Content automatically and sort out, but according to critics, and, in particular, for Videos, is still not Mature.
On the weekend before the vote, 200,000 people in Europe protested far as here in Göttingen
For the members of Peter Liesel from the EPP, however, this is not an Argument. In the negotiation of the reduction of CO2 emissions, he says, have not lived up to the concerns of the auto industry that the technology for electric vehicles is not Mature.
Proponents also invoke the exceptions: The new scheme takes Satire and quotes explicitly. In fact, this is only a reference to an already existing law. Experts are of the opinion that programs are not able to distinguish such legal content from illegal. This would to be sorted out of the lot and the freedom of expression in the network is limited.
The Reform in the Parliament responsible CDU Deputy Axel Voss sees no reason for concern. Internet giants, like Google and Facebook he is not on his side, he enjoys the backing of large media houses. The media group Bertelsmann, said the Directive. And also the Chairman of the music delivery Manager, said Gema, Harald Heker, the new Directive, the shooter and the strength of the creative professionals in many areas.
The Reform of the copyright is defended on the right: the CDU-member of the European Parliament, Axel Voss
Hope on both sides
As Axel Voss enters the afternoon before his press conference the Podium, to catch some of the journalists in the room to clap. They are admonished by two employees of the Pressestabs, but Voss is visibly pleased with the recognition. In the past few weeks, he has a lot of plug in, even death threats against him. Comforting he turns to his critics: “I know that many are frustrated. As bad as it was painted, but it is not.” His goal is to create more legal security in the network, he has met, he says. What is good for the User.
His opponent, the pirate party is of a different opinion. Julia Reda speaks of a missed opportunity to give the EU a modern copyright law. Because the advocates of Reform would not have wanted that: “There were alternative options. The discussion with critics were not taken seriously,” she says. Reda, according to opponents of the Reform have been, and false information widely discredited.
In spite of everything, the power politician, the fighter is. She has the hope that once again encourages, and wants to increase the pressure on the Federal government. In a final act of the EU must agree to countries, again the compromise. Only the last word is spoken.
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