The internet has lost  12/09/2018 by Tom Hirche

Today, the European Parliament held its second vote on copyright in the digital single market and it took the worst possible outcome. Amendments to delete article 11 altogether or to alter it into a rule of legal presumption were rejected by a large majority. Instead, MEP Axel Voss's latest proposal for an ancillary copyright for press publishers was adopted. The same goes for his proposal that aims to introduce upload filters in the EU.

In the end, the countless open letters, research studies, tweets, blog posts, articles, speeches that warned against the damages an ancillary copyright for press publishers would bring did not stop its proponents. They could not prevent this disastrous result. An ancillary copyright will not change the current situation for the better but will do harm to freedom of information and expression in the European Union.

MEP Marietje Schaake's (ALDE, Netherlands) on today's vote:

The Parliament squandered the opportunity to get the copyright reform on the right track. This is a disastrous result for the protection of our fundamental rights, ordinary internet users and Europe's future in the field of artificial intelligence. We have set a step backwards instead of creating a true copyright reform that is fit for the 21st century.

The EU Institutions will now enter into trilogue negotiations. But regarding an ancillary copyright for press publishers, there is not much left to debate as the European Commission, the Council and now the Parliament support its introduction which is now only a matter of time. However, this does not mean that we give up fighting for freedom of information and reasonable regulation!

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