Barnier's four-point EU copyright plan explained

Speaking at the launch of the of the CEPS Digital Forum Taskforce on Copyright in the EU Digital Single Market this week, the French Commissioner said copyright must be a modern and effective tool to support creation and innovation, enable access to quality content across borders and foster investment.

“Copyright cannot be a barrier. It must be an enabler,” he said.

Explaining further, Barnier identified four priorities for a copyright framework: (1) facilitating the access of all Europeans to their heritage; (2) passing the Single Market test, making more content available to more citizens, cross-border; (3) providing the right incentives for those that create and invest in content and ensures the right balance with other policy objectives; and (4) providing incentives including meaningful enforcement.

Barnier said he would launch a new partnership with industry, “Licensing Europe” to deliver concrete progress. “We will also be discussing these issues soon with my fellow Commissioners. We need to agree on the best way forward between now and the end of our mandate,” he added.