During the EP plenary session (15-18 May 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market. Statements by Jean-Marie CAVADA (ALDE, FR), Rapporteur, Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE) and Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK).

digital single market (T)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

ANSIP, Andrus (Renew, EE)

copyright law (T)

CAVADA, Jean-Marie (ALDE, FR)

KARIM, Sajjad (ECR, UK)

VERHEYEN, Sabine (EPP, DE)

Cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Marie CAVADA (ALDE, FR), Rapporteur, The regulation will apply to services which are provided for payment, so the principle of maintaining a copyright law is protected by this text but we will be introducing a new freedom which is that of being able to travel on a temporary basis and access your subscriber services from your country of origin and country of permanent residence.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Marie CAVADA (ALDE, FR), Rapporteur, There has to be a genuine residence and a genuine use of service and it must be possible to ensure that there is no abuse. If the providers of services wish to, they need to be able to use a closed list, if they wish, they need to be able check the IP address and ensure that there is no fraudulent use of the service or access of the service, because the balance needs to be maintained between the copyright and the right to access content outside your residence country.

SOUNDBITE (English), Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, We have to provide legal access to digital content search or citizens. We know that according to public opinion polls even 20% of Internet users in the European Union are using VPN to get access to digital content. Even 68% of film viewers in the European Union said that they are using so called 'free downloads'. This is a problem, authors are not fairly remunerated.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine VERHEYEN (EPP, DE), This system of financing films and the principle of territoriality have also been maintained through a flexible graduated system, the Culture Committee was very concerned about this and we're happy to see that this is a proposal which retains and enhances the diversity of the European film sector by allowing this sector to retain the principle of territoriality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK), For far too long we have tried to work towards deconstructing borders only today to find ourselves in a situation where our citizens can physically pass through a border but a big part of their life stops as soon as they do so, because they cannot access the digital content that rightfully belongs to them. And therefore it was essential that this matter was dealt with and I congratulate you for the approach that you have taken and the well balanced inclusive solution that you have arrived at.