ÖKB unterstützt Authors‘ Group-Brief zur Urheberrechts-Richtlinie

A Europe fit for the next generation of creators

European Authors’ statement in support of the Copyright Directive

The undersigned organisations of authors – writers, journalists, screenwriters, filmmakers, composers and songwriters – urge you to support the successful adoption of the proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. It represents a once in a decade opportunity to improve the situation of authors, thereby strengthening the European creative community and our cultural wealth in the digital era. Europe is the cradle of author’s rights: it must not turn its back on both its historical values and on its creative future in the digital era.

Since the last European elections, the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States concluded that the European Union has an essential responsibility to promote fair remuneration for creators, including online, because:

– The online world is of key importance to the European future, especially for Europe’s cultural and creative industries, which create EUR 509 billion in value added to the GDP, provide 7.5 % of the EU’s work force and significantly contribute to the EU economy in terms of employment, investment, growth, innovation and competitiveness on a global scale.

– Creative works, being bought and sold with such enormous economic success, are the product of the creative minds of Europe’s authors, yet their careers are barely sustainable, extremely unstable and they are in the vast majority poorly remunerated.

– In addition, technological innovation has thrown much of the established structures for the distribution of cultural content into disarray, reducing further authors’ capacity to generate income from the use of their works.

After years of debate and discussion, the European Commission, Member States and a wide majority of MEPs have supported key transparency provisions intended to strengthen authors’ bargaining power and improve their remuneration in contracts (Chapter 3 of the Directive).

This Directive is now under threat, as some claim that this Directive will “censor the Internet” and threaten freedom of expression. Authors are at the very origin of the copyright value chain, and freedom of expression is the cornerstone of creativity: we could not support a legislation that would limit it in any way. The Directive’s chapter 3’s provisions that protect and improve the situation of authors are necessary conditions to foster freedom of expression: a precondition for the right of audiences to enjoy diverse creative work is that authors are able to make a living from their work. We therefore urge MEPs to adopt Chapter 3 in its JURI report version, which is the result of a non-partisan political consensus.

It is now time for the EU to send a strong signal to future generations who want to create and be fairly remunerated for their creations. Throwing the Directive away by postponing its adoption would be an appalling missed opportunity to empower the creative community in the digital era, and an unprecedented setback for all creators in Europe and across the world, to the sole benefit of global online platforms.

It is now time to act, effectively support Europe’s creators, and build a sustainable future for Europe’s cultural diversity.

Make the right choice and adopt the Copyright Directive without further delay! 

Sincerely yours,

1. ADA, Austrian Directors’ Association, Austria – Jenny Gand & Jacob Groll, Co-Chairs

2. APR – ASSOCIAÇÃO PORTUGUESA DE REALIZADORES, Portugal, Filipa Reis – President

3. AGJPB, AJP-VVJ, Belgium – François Ryckmans – President

4. ALMA, Spain – Alberto Macías, President

5. AMA, Autores de Musica Asociados, Spain – Javier de Juan- President

6. AMCE, Asociacion de Mujeres Creadoras de Musica, Spain – Natalia Vergara – President

7. ANAC, Associazione Nazionale dei Autori Cinematografici, Italy – Francesco Ranieri Martinotti – President

8. ARF/FD, Swiss Filmmakers Association, Switzerland – Barbara Miller – President

9. ARRF, Association des Réalisateurs et Réalisatrices de Films, Belgium – André Buytaers, Administrator

10. Association of Directors and Producers of Montenegro, Montenegro – Ivan Djurovic, President

11. Associazione dell’Autorialità Cinetelevisiva – 100autori, Italy – Stefano Sardo – President

12. Belgian Screen Composers Guild, Belgium – Frederic Vercheval – President

13. British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), England – Crispin Hunt – Chair

14. BAM! (Dutch Songwriters Society), The Netherlands – Pieter Perquin – Chair

15. BCMM (* Beroepsvereniging Componisten MultiMedia), The Netherlands – Johan van der Voet – Chair

16. BAFTRS – Bulgarian Association of the Film, Theater and Radio Scriptwriters Bulgaria – Stanislav Semerdjiev – Chairman

17. Bundesverband Regie e. V., Germany – Peter Carpentier, Marie Noëlle, Katarina Schickling – Executive Board

18. CC Composers Club e.V., Germany – John Groves – President

19. Danish Composers’ Society, Denmark – Bent Sørensen – President

20. Danish Songwriters Guild – DPA – Niels Mosumgaard -Chairman

21. Danske Dramatikere, Denmark – Christina Bergholdt Knudsen, Director

22. Danske Filminstruktører/Danish Film Directors, Denmark – Christina Rosendahl-President

23. DEFKOM (Deutsche Filmkomponistenunion des Deutschen Komponistenverbandes), Germany, Micki Meuser

24. Deutscher Komponistenverband, Germany – Dr. Enjott Schneider- President

25. Deutscher Textdichter-Verband/ German Lyricist Association, Germany – Frank Ramond – President

26. DGCY – Directors Guild of Cyprus, Cyprus – Daina Papadaki – President

27. Directors UK, United Kingdom – Andrew Chowns, CEO. Steve Smith, Chair

28. DJBFA/composers and songwriters, The Netherlands – Susi Hyldgaard – Chair

29. DJV, Germany – Frank Überall- President

30. Drehbuchverband Austria / Austrian Screenwriter Association, Austria Eva – Spreitzhofer – Obfrau

31. Društvo slovenskih režiserjev /Directors Guild of Slovenia, Slovenia – Miha Knific – President

32. DSR Scenaristi / DSR Screenwriters, Slovenia – Matevž Luzar – President

33. ESIEMTH Nikolaos Karras – President

34. ESPEK – Association of Greek Film Directors-Producers, Greece – Elina Psykou – President

35. Estonian Union of Journalists, Estonia – Ms Helle Tiikmaa – Chair

36. European Composer and Songwriter Alliance – Alfons Karabuda – President

37. European Writers Council – Myriam Diocaretz – Secretary General

38. FAIC (Federación de Asociaciones Ibéricas de Compositores), Spain – Domènec González de la Rubia – President

39. FAIR/MediaSind, Romania – Leonard Paduret- President

40. Federation of European Film Directors, Pauline Durand-Vialle – CEO

41. Federation of Screenwriters Europe, David Kavanagh – Executive Officer

42. Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles, Belgium – Lorenzo Caròla – Directeur

43. FEM (Fachgruppe Ernste Musik des Deutschen Komponistenverbandes), Germany – Johannes K. Hildebrandt

44. The Finnish Music Creators FMC, Finland – Kaija Kärkinen – Chair of the Board

45. FLAC (Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Auteurs et Compositeurs), Luxembourg – Roby Steinmetzer – President

46. FNSI (Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana), Italy – Raffaele Lorusso – General Secretary

47. Fondazione Adkins Chiti: Donne in Musica (FACDIM) Valerie Susan Baxter – President

48. Foro de Asociaciones de Guionistas Auidiovisuales (FAGA), Spain – Ana Hormaetxea – Chair

49. FSC CCOO, Spain – Francisco Javier Jimenez – General Secretary 50. Greek Directors’ Guild, Greece – Haris Papadopoulos – Chairman

51. Guilde Française des Scénaristes, France – Pauline Rocafull – Chair

52. HDS (Hrvatsko Društvo Skladatelja / Croatian Composers‘ Society), Croatia – Ante Pecotic – President

53. Hungarian Composers‘ Union (Magyar Zeneszerzők Egyesülete), Máté Hollós – President

54. HPU, Hungary, Eva F. Kováts – Chair

55. Icelandic Composers‘ Society, Iceland, Þórunn Gréta Sigurðardóttir –Chair

56. IMAGO – European Federation of Cinematographers, Paul René Roestad – President

57. Impressum, Switzerland, Sina Bühler – President

58. Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, IASCA, Ireland, Colm Quearney – Chairman

59. Israel Composers‘ League (ICL), Israel, Ayal Adler- Chairman

60. JUADN, Maria Antoniadou – President and Stavros Kapakos – General Secretary

61. Komponist Foreningen (Norwegian Society of Composers) Norway, Jørgen Karlstrøm – Chairman of the Board

62. LARS – Luxembourgish Association of Film Directors and Scriptwriters, Luxembourg – Claude Lahr, President

63. Latvian Filmmakers Union, Latvia, Ieva Romanova – Chair

64. Lithuanian Filmmakers Union, Lithuania, Arūnas Matelis – President

65. Musimagen, Spain, Dario Palomo – President

66. Netwerk Scenarioschrijvers/Auteursbond (Dutch Screenwriters/Authors Guild), The Netherlands – Pieter Bart Korthuis – Chair

67. NFF – Norwegian Film Makers Association, Norway – Sverre Pedersen – President

68. NFK – Norwegian Film Editors Association, Norway – Torkel Gjorv – Chairman

69. NFR – Norske Filmregissører, Norway – Marianne Kleven, Chair

70. NOPA (Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists), Norway – Ingrid Kindem – Chair

71. Norske Dramatikeres Forbund / Writers’ Guild of Norway, Norway – Monica Boracco – Chair

72. NUJ, The UK, Michelle Stanistreet – General Secretary

73. PCAM (the Society of Producers & Composers of Applied Music), UK – Paul Reynolds – Acting Chairman

74. Polish Composers‘ Union, Poland (Zwiazek Kompozytorow Polskich), Poland – Mieczyslaw Kominek Ph.D. – the President of the Polish Composers‘ Union

75. Österreichische Gesellschaft für zeitgenössische Musik (ÖGZM), Austria, Morgana Petrik – President

76. Österreichischer Komponistenbund (ÖKB), Austria, Alexander Kukelka – President

77. Samtök kvikmyndaleikstjóra – SKL (Film Directors Guild of Iceland), Iceland – Dagur Kári Pétursson – Chairman

78. Scenario, Switzerland – Jacqueline Surchat – Coordinator

79. Screen Composers Guild of Ireland CLG, Ireland, Sarah Glennane – CEO

80. Scriptwriters Guild of Greece, Greece – Alexander Kakavas – President

81. SDGI – Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, Ireland – Maurice Sweeney, Chairman

82. SFP – Stowarzyszenie Filmowców Polskich/Polish Filmmakers Association, Poland – Jacek Bromski – President

83. SFR – Société des Réalisateurs de Films, France – Marie Amachoukeli, Bertrand Bonello, Christophe Ruggia, Co-Presidents

84. Sindicato dos Jornalistas (RJ), Portugal – Sofia Branco – President

85. SKAP – The Swedish Society of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, Sweden – Alfons Karabuda – Chair

86. SNJ – Syndicat National des Journalistes – France – Vincent Lanier – Premier secrétaire général

87. Syndicat National des Auteurs et des Compositeurs, SNAC France – Pierre-André Athané – President

88. Société des Réalisateurs de Films, France – Marie Amachoukeli, Bertrand Bonello, Christophe Ruggia, Co-Presidents

89. The Society of Finnish Composers, Finland – Antti Auvinen – Chairman of the Board

90. SOKOM

91. Suomen elokuvaohjaajaliitto SELO ry, Finland – Sakari Kirjavainen – Chair

92. Suomen Journalistiliitto, Finland – Hanne Aho – President

93. Suomen Näytelmäkirjailijat ja Käsikirjoittajat ry (Finnish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild), Finland – Sonia Meltti – Executive Director

94. Svenska Journalistförbundet, Sweden – Jonas Nordling – President

95. Swedish Society of Composers, Sweden – Martin Jonsson Tibblin – President

96. UCJ, Cyprus – Christos Christofides – General Secretary

97. UNCLA, Italy – Giuseppe Amendola – General Secretary

98. Unie van Regisseurs vzw, Belgium – Michaël R. Roskam & Stijn Coninx, Co-Chairmen

99. Union Nationale des Auteurs et Compositeurs (UNAC), France – Olivier Delevingne – President

100. Union of Magazine and Electronic Press Journalists, Themis Beredimas – President

101. Union des Compositeurs de Musiques de Films – Béatrice Thiriet – Secrétaire générale

102. Verband Deutscher Drehbuchautoren e.V. Germany – Sebastian Andrae, Prof. Peter Henning

103. Vlaamse Scenaristengilde / Flemish Screenwriters Guild, Belgium – Michel Sabbe & Dirk Nielandt

104. Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), UK – Ellie Peers – General Secretary

105. Writers’ Guild of Ireland, Ireland – Thomas McLaughlin – Chairman

106. The Society of Authors, United Kingdom – David Donachie – Chair

107. The Society of Finnish Composers, Finland – Antti Auvinen – Chairman of the Board

108. Society of Swedish Authors in Finland, Finland Peter Sandström- Chair

109. SOKOM, The Composers’ association of Macedonia

110. Suomen elokuvaohjaajaliitto SELO ry, Finland – Sakari Kirjavainen – Chair 111. Suomen Journalistiliitto, Finland – Hanne Aho – President

112. Suomen Näytelmäkirjailijat ja Käsikirjoittajat ry (Finnish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild), Finland – Sonia Meltti – Executive Director

113. Svenska Journalistförbundet, Sweden – Jonas Nordling – President

114. Swedish Association of Educational Writers, Sweden – Wiwi Ahlberg – President

115. Swedish Film Directors, Sweden- Maria Eriksson-Hecht and Göran du Rees – Presidents

116. Swedish Society of Composers, Sweden – Martin Jonsson Tibblin – President

117. The Swedish Writers’ Union, Sweden – Grethe Rottböll – President

118. Teaterförbundet – The Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film, Simon Norrthon, President

119. UBJ, Bulgaria, Snezhana Todorova – President

120. UCJ, Cyprus – Christos Christofides – General Secretary

121. UNCLA, Italy – Giuseppe Amendola – General Secretary

122. Unie van Regisseurs vzw, Belgium – Michaël R. Roskam & Stijn Coninx, Co-Chairmen

123. The Union of Finnish Writers, Finland – Suvi Oinonen – Executive Director

124. Union Nationale des Auteurs et Compositeurs (UNAC), France – Olivier Delevingne – President

125. Union of Magazine and Electronic Press Journalists (ESPIT) Greece – Themis K. Beredimas- President, Thanasis Alatas -General Secretary

126. Union of Magazine and Electronic Press Journalists, Themis Beredimas – President

127. Union des Compositeurs de Musiques de Films – Béatrice Thiriet – Secrétaire générale

128. Verband Deutscher Drehbuchautoren e.V. Germany – Sebastian Andrae, Prof. Peter Henning

129. Vlaamse Scenaristengilde / Flemish Screenwriters Guild, Belgium – Michel Sabbe & Dirk Nielandt

130. Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), UK – Ellie Peers – General Secretary

131. Writers’ Guild of Ireland, Ireland – Thomas McLaughlin – Chairman