European Commission Prepares New IP Directive

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

26 January 2012

European Commissioner Michel Barnier has confirmed that the Commission is closely monitoring developments both in European Union member states and in other countries in the field of intellectual property rights and online piracy, including the current debate in the US Congress on proposed legislation.

Underlining that as a principle, theft of property can not be tolerated, Barnier also confirmed in a recent statement that he is currently working together with the Commission services to revise the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement directive, noting that the Commission's intention is to propose a revised directive by the end of 2012.

Barnier stated that: “My overall objective is to make sure that new online business models can emerge in Europe with a solid legal certainty for providers and consumers. We want to enable creators to offer their works over the Internet and protect them against the theft of their works.”

He added: “The European Commission will facilitate licensing of music and other works by establishing a level playing field in the single market for collective management of rights. We are working on a proposal for this spring.”

He ended: “Through its revision of the Enforcement Directive, the Commission will ensure that operators that solicit copyright infringements by individuals and derive profit from this are rapidly identified and sanctioned by the courts in the member states.”

“We must inhibit businesses from making money on the back of rights holders in order to allow for sustainable business models to develop their legal offers on the internet.”

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