Neelie Kroes: "So we are launching this initiative to show technology and copyright can go together"

Speech 4 February 2013: Stakeholders dialogue on copyright “Licenses for Europe”. "New technologies have huge implications for the creative sector. And for the policies and regulatory structures that underpin it. As many of you will know, I have for a long time called for changes to those structures.

I was first confronted with this relationship as the Competition Commissioner at the time of the "CISAC decision". That dealt with the old-fashioned licensing practices and territorial separation of markets by collecting societies. And that case left me unsatisfied.

Because the fact is, old practices need to adapt to new digital realities. That calls for real change and legal and practical solutions: competition tools are not enough for that.

(...) The Digital Economy is steaming ahead – in Europe, the internet is already worth over 4% of the economy, and growing seven times faster than GDP. Plus it has a huge job potential. We can't ignore this in times of crisis and high youth unemployment. I want Europe, and every European, to benefit fully from this growth - getting us back on the path to prosperity.
That takes many things. We must stimulate investments in faster broadband. And we must boost demand for on line public services, like e-health.

But we also need content. Rich, vibrant online content is a big part of that digital economy: and that's what "Licences for Europe" is about - helping you capture all the benefits of a connected, competitive continent. Ultimately, I want Europeans to enjoy a wide choice of lawful digital content, wherever they are: and for that content to be rewarded.

So we are launching this initiative to show technology and copyright can go together.

I am not too keen on heavy-handed legislative measures. They aren't always needed; and sometimes, pragmatic and easy-to-implement solutions are just as valid. The goal is to adjust current practices or get rid of costly inefficiencies.

This initiative is called "Licences for Europe": and new licensing approaches for protected content will no doubt feature prominently in your discussions. We do not prejudge its outcome.

But keep your minds open: maybe in some cases licensing won't be the solution. Maybe it will be provided by technology and data, like the Global Repertoire Database or some wider initiative not yet on the table. This exercise will show us how far we can solve our issues within the current framework.

But as you know, the Commission is also working on a parallel track of action. Looking at modernisation through legislation."

Lees de gehele speech hier.