EU parliament approves new internet copyright rules

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday announced that it has approved the new internet copyright rules.

"Creatives and news publishers will be empowered to negotiate with internet giants thanks to new copyright rules," the EP said in a press release.

The EP also said new rules, which are approved by 348 votes in favor, 274 against and 36 abstentions, are including "safeguards on freedom of expression."

The new directive will give chance to content creators -- musicians, performers and script authors, news publishers -- for making better remuneration deals with technology giants, such as YouTube, Facebook, and Google News.

"Currently, internet companies have little incentive to sign fair licensing agreements with rights holders, because they are not considered liable for the content that their users upload," the parliament said.

It noted that these rules will make internet companies liable and raise rights holders’ chances to secure fair licensing agreements.

The EP said non-commercial platforms -- such as Wikipedia -- will not be affected from these rules.

Axel Voss, an MP at the EP, said: “This directive is an important step towards correcting a situation which has allowed a few companies to earn huge sums of money without properly remunerating the thousands of creatives and journalists whose work they depend on."

"This is a directive which protects people’s living, safeguards democracy by defending a diverse media landscape, entrenches freedom of expression, and encourages start-ups and technological development," he added.

The legislative process to introduce new rules was started in 2016.