Policy / advocacy / copyright reform Archives

EU’s proposed link tax would [still] harm Creative Commons licensors

In September the European Parliament voted to approve drastic changes to copyright law that would negatively affect creativity, freedom of expression, research, and sharing across the EU. Now the Parliament and Council (representing the Member State governments) are engaged in closed-door negotiations, and their task over the coming months is to come up with a … Read More “EU’s proposed link tax would [still] harm Creative Commons licensors”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

What’s next with WIPO’s ill-advised broadcast treaty?

Six years ago we wrote a blog post titled WIPO’s Broadcasting Treaty: Still Harmful, Still Unnecessary. At the time, the proposed treaty – which would grant to broadcasters a separate, exclusive copyright-like right in the signals that they transmit, separate from any copyrights in the content of the transmissions – had already been on WIPO’s … Read More “What’s next with WIPO’s ill-advised broadcast treaty?”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

New NAFTA Would Harm Canadian Copyright Reform and Shrink the Public Domain

Late yesterday the U.S., Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement on a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The agreement (now rebranded as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or “USMCA”) obligates Canada to increase its copyright term by an additional 20 years if the deal is passed. Canada currently observes the minimum term of copyright as … Read More “New NAFTA Would Harm Canadian Copyright Reform and Shrink the Public Domain”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

With the European Parliament vote on the copyright directive, the internet lost – for now

Today the European Parliament voted 438-226 (with 39 abstentions) to approve drastic changes to copyright law that, if ultimately enacted, would negatively affect creativity, freedom of expression, research, and sharing across the EU. The Parliament voted in favor of almost all provisions that extend more rights to the establishment copyright industries while failing to protect … Read More “With the European Parliament vote on the copyright directive, the internet lost – for now”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

It’s now or never: EU copyright must protect access to knowledge and the commons

We’re coming up on a crucial decision on changes to copyright in the European Union that will govern how creativity is accessed and shared for years to come. On 12 September the European Parliament will vote on the draft Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. If you’re in the EU, go to https://saveyourinternet.eu/ … Read More “It’s now or never: EU copyright must protect access to knowledge and the commons”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee Gives Green Light to Harmful Link Tax and Pervasive Platform Censorship

If you’re in the EU, go to saveyourinternet.eu and tell your MEPs to stop the proposal and reopen the debate. Today, the European Parliament the Legal Affairs Committee voted in favor of the most harmful provisions of the proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. The outcome reflects a disturbing path toward increasing … Read More “European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee Gives Green Light to Harmful Link Tax and Pervasive Platform Censorship”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

Act now to stop the EU’s plan to censor the web

As the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament is nearing a vote on the proposed reform of the EU copyright rules, time is running out to make your voice heard. The vote will take place on June 20. The final copyright directive will have deep and lasting effects on the ability to create and … Read More “Act now to stop the EU’s plan to censor the web”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

Red Alert for Net Neutrality

Today Creative Commons is joining dozens of organisations in the Red Alert for Net Neutrality. The action calls on individuals to contact Congress with phone calls, emails, and tweets in support of the upcoming Senate vote on a Congressional Review Act resolution to block the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality. The open internet protections must … Read More “Red Alert for Net Neutrality”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

Mexican Senate passes changes to copyright law that would censor content online

Digital rights organisations in Mexico are sounding the alarm after the Senate approved changes to the copyright law that would censor information online. The measures would allow for the preemptive removal of content without having to prove that a copyright infringement has actually taken place. Yesterday the Senate approved the modifications to the Federal Copyright … Read More “Mexican Senate passes changes to copyright law that would censor content online”

Policy / advocacy / copyright reform

56 organisations tell EU legislator to delete the absurd link tax

Creative Commons and 55 organisations sent a letter to the head of the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee, MEP Axel Voss, urging him to remove the harmful and counterproductive press publishers right from the EU copyright reform docket. Last month, we wrote about the proposal floated by Voss that would take the already-harmful press publishers … Read More “56 organisations tell EU legislator to delete the absurd link tax”