Press Release: Intellectual Property: Commission adopted forward-looking package

On 16 July, the European Commission adopted two initiatives in the area of copyright. First, the Commission proposed to align the copyright term for performers with that applicable to authors, in this way bridging the income gap that performers face toward the end of their lives. Secondly, the Commission proposed to fully harmonise the copyright term that applies to co-written musical compositions. In parallel, the Commission also adopted a Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy. The consultation document focuses on topics that appear relevant for the development of a modern economy, driven by the rapid dissemination of knowledge and information. Both of these initiatives comprise a unique mix of social, economic and cultural measures aimed at maintaining Europe as a prime location for cultural creators in the entertainment and knowledge sectors.

European Commission: MEMO/08/512: Questions and Answers on the revised Ecolabel scheme http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/511&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: MEMO/08/508: Commission Proposal on a Directive for Term Extension – Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/508&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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