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In a recent meeting the European social partners in the audiovisual sector decided to join forces and called on the European Union to adopt a strong stance against filesharing. The Committee brings together the European trade associations of commercial and public broadcasters, film and TV producers as well as FIA, FIM, IFJ and UNI MEI Global Union. The Committee is addressing common issues of interest with respect to employment and social affairs as well as other issues or legislative initiative affecting the audiovisual sector. After a first debate in autumn, social partners presented a joint position to the European Commission in December. The position is now also disseminated to other EU institutions with the hope that EU decision makers will step efforts to combat piracy.



The social partners are concerned that the enormous growth of unauthorised file sharing of copyrighted works and recorded performances is an increasing problem to the European economy in terms of lost job opportunities and revenues for the industry as well as for governments. This phenomenon potentially affects all categories of rights holders. Companies are faced with a loss of revenues and return on investment in the production and exploitation of creative contents. In addition, many authors, performers and other rights holders are deprived from a fair share of the benefits generated by the digital economy in practice.



The joint position paper stressed that in order to protect creativity, provide for sustainable jobs and ensure fair revenues to all right holders, the audiovisual industry needs adequate protection against Internet piracy. Social partners acknowledge that models of digital online distribution should provide for proper remuneration with respect to all parties concerned. Such models are vital for consumers and right holders alike and will be jeopardized unless the question of illegal file sharing and other unlawful use of protected content is seriously addressed.



The social partners calls on the EU Commission to



- undertake an extensive survey quantifying the economic effects of misappropriation of protected works and performances via the Internet. This study shall address current and future lost employment under current trends of Internet piracy and loss of revenue, respectively for each category of creators and for the investors.



- formally adopt a strong stance against unauthorised file sharing of protected works and performances, while at the same time substantially improving the legal framework for producers, broadcasters and creators to provide for lawful online offerings.



- acknowledge the need for effective enforcement of producers’, broadcasters’ and creators’ rights that exist now or may exist in the future, as well as the principle that the exploitation of audiovisual content should generate tangible and fair benefits for the concerned right holders and if necessary consider introducing or reviewing EU legislation which seeks to protect these rights from fraudulent and illegal use.



To download the position paper, click on “related files” on top of the page.