EU copyright reform must balance rightholders’ and users’ interests, say MEPs

“In this report, Parliament recognises that copyright reform is necessary not just to improve the digital single market, but also to promote access to knowledge and information for everyone in Europe. We call on the Commission to consider a wide variety of measures to bring copyright law up to speed with changing realities and improve cross-border access to our cultural diversity”, rapporteur Julia Reda (Greens/EFA, DE) said after the vote.  “This report marks a turning point. After decades of introducing new restrictions to protect the material interests of rightholders, this is the strongest demand yet to restore balance in copyright rules and reduce the legal uncertainty that Europeans face when accessing copyrighted works today”, she added.  The committee’s non-legislative report, assessing the effects of the key piece of EU copyright law, was approved by 23 votes to 2. Here to read more.