BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament voted Wednesday to extend EU copyright legislation to protect music and audiovisual material from Internet piracy and to limit home copying of videos and music.
Representatives of the film, TV and music industry, many of whom went to Strasbourg to lobby mem-bers of the European Parliament right up to the crucial lunchtime vote, reacted with delight to the Parliament's decision, which was voted through by a clear majority.
"Congratulations to the European Parliament," said Philippe Kern, director of EU affairs at Polygram. "They clearly understood the issues involved and did great work this morning, despite commission attempts and lobbying from the technological sector for a different outcome."
Intense lobbying
Telcos, Internet service providers and hardware manufacturers had tried to persuade Parliament that its amendments were not in the best interests of consumers and would give rights holders a stranglehold on distribution of films and music on the Internet.
But their lobbying efforts could not match those of a coalition of producers, publishers, writers and musicians, who argued that tougher copyright rules are needed to stop illegal duplicating of films, music and texts from the Internet -- a growing problem as digital technology makes it easier for pirates to make high-quality copies.
An original draft of the updated copyright legislation, prepared by the European Commission, had caused concern among film, music and publishing industry reps for its hands-off approach.
"Fair compensation"
The Parliament's amendment swings the pendulum the other way, stating that EU governments can allow consumers to make analog or digital copies of films or music for their personal use (as is now the case), but only if rights holders are given "fair compensation."
This stipulation could force Britain, Ireland and Luxembourg to follow the example of other EU countries and put levies on blank tape or copying equipment to ensure rights holders are compensated.
Rights holders also won on the controversial issue of so-called transient copies, which take place automatically when Internet service providers transmit material over distances of more than 50 kilometers (31 miles). The Parliament followed the lead taken by its legal affairs committee in January, deciding that this type of copying should only be allowed if use of the original content had been approved by the rights holder or permitted by national law.
The Parliament also voted strongly in favor of an amendment obliging member governments to discourage the manufacture and distribution of devices or components designed to foil anti-copying or controlled-access technologies.
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