Action 6: Protecting intellectual property rights online
On the basis of the review of the Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, and following extensive stakeholder dialogue, report by 2012 on the need for additional measures to reinforce the protection against persistent violations of intellectual property rights in the online environment, consistent with the guarantees provided in the Telecoms Framework and fundamental rights on data protection and privacy.
What is the problem? Balancing copyright owner and consumer rights online
We need to strike the right balance between protection of Intellectual Property Rights and the general public's access to content and knowledge. In particular, Europe needs to push ahead with the creation, production and distribution of digital content on a range of competitive platforms.
Why is EU action needed? To develop the EU's digital single market
Legislation might not even be necessary. Mass copyright infringements in the internet could be reduced if consumers have the possibility to access content legally and at a reasonable price. Moreover, piracy could be tackled through better cooperation among the different players in the creative content value chain, such as rightholders and intermediaries.
What will the Commission do?
In 2012:
If needed, the Commission will present additional measures to reinforce the protection against persistent violations of intellectual property rights in the online environment.
Contact:
michael.niebel@ec.europa.eu
