European commissioner Neelie Kroes of Digital Agenda, wants the current copyrightstelsel on the shovel. The millions now being spent on anti-piracy measures, lead by her to a negative image among consumers.
According to Kroes get citizens increasingly dislike copyright. Many see copyright as a punishment, not as a reward for artists. Kroes said in a speech last weekend indicated that this has to change. “We should piracy continue to fight, but legal action is increasingly difficult. The millions that are used to protect copyrights, prevent piracy.” The commissioner therefore intends that the new guidelines for artists to be rewarded and encouraged.
The use of cloud computing may raise questions about how licenses can be used. There may be new legislation to help, sets Kroes. It concerns, in particular, a number of legal frameworks within which artists are free to choose the models to wear. So it should be easier to license.
Kroes believes that artists should not continue to cling to the current copyrightstelsel, but go back to the basics: recognition. She suggests, among other things, the idea for a global database in which all of the artists and their works registered. The artist should be the center, not the copyright, according to Kroes.
It is not yet clear how the guidelines in the future should be precisely designed; the European Commission is there to say still working on that. That should be according to Kroes, however, has to be done quickly. “European stakeholders look with fear to the introduction of Netflix, or the expansion of iTunes. But we need to respond and not fear paralyzed.”