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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps he is taking to ensure an equitable return to writers for the re-use of their work; [150543] (2) what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding provisions in the draft copyright directive affecting the interest of writers in the re-use of their material by broadcasters. [150542] Dr. Howells: The Council of Ministers reached a common position on this draft directive last September on the basis of a text which we fully support and which was also endorsed by the Commission. This does not contain any provision addressing re-use of material by broadcasters, but the directive is currently undergoing its Second Reading in the European Parliament, where an amendment has been proposed which would permit member states to provide an exception to rights allowing broadcasters to use archive material in new services without right owners' consent, provided they receive remuneration. We do not consider this amendment appropriate or desirable, and we believe that writers and other right owners should continue to be able to exercise their rights to control re-use of their material in order that they can obtain a fair return for this. The Council has also to agree on the content of the directive before it can be finally adopted.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

363 c284W; 150543;150542

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Copyright Broadcasting programmes Archives Exemptions Intellectual property EU action Payments

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk