The Digital Age has indeed brought in a lot of ease in human lives and this growing technology is continuing to make us dependent unconsciously. In addition, the comparatively new Intellectual Property rights evolved has been time and again challenged due to the growth of technology. On one hand it has provided for larger platforms to share an individuals' original work, whereas on the other hand it has lost control of the material shared due to 'free access' and has created unrest among the owners of such works.
EU Data Privacy Laws have known to be one of the most stringent laws across the globe and only recently there has been proposed and now accepted a mammoth change with respect to the EU directive on Copyright. The most controversial of these directives are Article 11 and Article 13.
Article 11:Protection of press publications concerning digital uses.
Also called the Link-tax, this provision elaborates on social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, to obtain copyright licenses from the publishers. Under this directive the right for publishers would extend for a period of 20 years from the date of publication. The Commission intends to provide income for the publishers for displaying 'snippets' of their originally owned content on social platforms to the users and simultaneously protect copyrights involved.
Article 13:Use of protected content by information society service providers storing and giving access to large amounts of works and other subject-matter uploaded by their users.
This focuses on the relationship between the copyright holders and online platforms, compelling the latter to enforce tighter regulations over protected content. This in simple words extends to remixes, memes, GIFs, and other such entertainment based links will need to be filtered and checked for copyright infringement. This article requires internet platforms to install a software copyright filter which will allow only copyright free work to be uploaded and ensure that copyrighted works are uploaded only after the due licenses are obtained.
Though these copyright directives have been voted for by the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in majority, there persists a lot of speculation with regard to the implementation of the directives. These directives puts an end to all the 'free lunches' enjoyed by the social platforms who will now have to pay for the uploading of works. These directives aim at curbing the profitability and popularity gained by these platforms gained by violating copyrights. The only certain aspect at this point is that all social platforms most being American companies, will have to amend their policies according to the new directives in order to sustain in the European Markets.
Compiled by: Adv. Sachi Kapoor | Concept & Edited by: Dr. Mohan Dewan
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