Copyright: Commission launches dialogue between platforms and rights holders

The European Commission opened today a call for expression of interest to participate in the stakeholder dialogue on the application of Article 17 of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market on the use of protected content by online content-sharing service providers. The stakeholders will discuss best practices on how content-sharing platforms and service providers should cooperate with rights holders This dialogue is requested under the new directive and will feed into the preparation of guidance on the application of Article 17.

The Commission will hold the first stakeholder meeting on 15 October in Brussels. The objective of the meeting is to gather and map existing practices for the use of copyright-protected content by online content-sharing service providers in cooperation with rights holders, as well as to gather user experiences. The deadline for applying is 18 September.

As required by Article 17 of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (EU 2019/790) on the use of protected content by online content-sharing service providers, the European Commission will organise a stakeholder dialogue to discuss best practices for cooperation between online content-sharing service providers and rightholders.

Objectives and timing of the stakeholder dialogue

The objective of the dialogue will be to hear stakeholders’ views and to discuss possible practical solutions for the application of Article 17, including actions to be taken by online content-sharing service providers with regard to unauthorised content, taking into account the interests of all relevant parties and the safeguards for users. The outcome of the discussions will feed into the preparation of the Commission’s guidance on the application of Article 17, referred to in the Directive.

The Commission will hold the first meeting of the stakeholder dialogue on 15 October, in Brussels. The objective of the first meeting will be to start mapping out existing practices related to the use of copyright-protected content by online content-sharing service providers in cooperation with rightholders, as well as to gather user experiences. Further meetings will be organised until the end of 2019 or early 2020. The final dates for the meetings will be confirmed in due time.