09/12/2008 Culture, Science, Education and Media
“The protection and adaptation of copyright in an information society where the growth of the internet offers everyone the opportunity to share written documents, music and films and to access electronic libraries remains a controversial issue, especially given the inadequate regulation of this sector,” said José Luis Arnaut, rapporteur of the PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education, at a hearing on copyright in Europe held in Paris today.
“We must attempt to reconcile the interests of the users and the rights-holders – authors, composers and researchers – by strengthening the legal rules at European level while endeavouring to preserve freedom of expression and the right to education and culture through free access to information,” added Mr Arnaut, drawing attention in this connection to the different approaches adopted by the Council of Europe and the European Union.
The participants in the hearing made it clear that all the interested parties, be they digital libraries, search engines such as Google, publishers, press groups, collection agencies such as SACEM or the users themselves, are anxious to defend their interests. The Assembly report will need to reflect two requirements: the digitisation of intellectual works must not infringe copyright, and access to information must not be impeded.