EU Parliament discusses collecting societies role in the digital society

On October 1st the European Parliament holds a hearing on the collective management of rights and the collecting societies role in the digital age. SKAP is participating to explain the importance of societies for the individual creator.

SKAP and ECSA Chairman Alfons Karabuda is invited by MEP Marielle Gallo to speak in the parliament and participate in one of three panels on "Collecting societies for the benefit of the creators of culture: Control and transparency." The reason for the hearing is the proposed new EU directive on copyright and collective management societies in Europe that was submitted in July 2012. Alfons Karabuda also met with EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes, responsible for the EU's digital agenda for a work session on the basis of the proposed directive.

- It is welcome that both the EU Commission and EU Parliament listens to the authors themselves in the process of creating a digital single market for culture. It is good to stimulate the technological development of new digital services, but it is ultimately good terms for individual authors that ensures that the content of these services are competitive, says Alfons Karabuda.