EU parliament approves new internet copyright rules

By Gokhan Ergocun</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – The European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday announced that it has approved the new internet copyright rules.</p> <p>&quot;Creatives and news publishers will be empowered to negotiate with internet giants thanks to new copyright rules,&quot; the EP said in a press release.</p> <p>The EP also said new rules, which are approved by 348 votes in favor, 274 against and 36 abstentions, are including &quot;safeguards on freedom of expression.&quot;</p> <p>The new directive will give chance to content creators — musicians, performers and script authors, news publishers — for making better remuneration deals with technology giants, such as YouTube, Facebook, and Google News.</p> <p>&quot;Currently, internet companies have little incentive to sign fair licensing agreements with rights holders, because they are not considered liable for the content that their users upload,&quot; the parliament said.</p> <p>It noted that these rules will make internet companies liable and raise rights holders’ chances to secure fair licensing agreements.</p> <p>The EP said non-commercial platforms — such as Wikipedia — will not be affected from these rules.</p> <p>Axel Voss, an MP at the EP, said: “This directive is an important step towards correcting a situation which has allowed a few companies to earn huge sums of money without properly remunerating the thousands of creatives and journalists whose work they depend on.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;This is a directive which protects people’s living, safeguards democracy by defending a diverse media landscape, entrenches freedom of expression, and encourages start-ups and technological development,&quot; he added. </p> <p>The legislative process to introduce new rules was started in 2016.