C'right Directive Agreement Nearing Final Stages At EU

An "agreement of substance" on the European Union's Copyright Directive was reached late yesterday evening at a meeting of the EU's permanent representatives committee. "The directive is based on a high level of protection, where rights holders by means of technological measures are entitled to protect themselves against violations. But there are some exceptions," says an EU spokesperson, who adds that in the section for private copying, "authors are allowed to personally limit the number of copies that can be made by one person."

The exact wording of the directive, expected to be formally adopted without debate at a council meeting this month in Brussels, will not be confirmed until tomorrow morning.

An EU spokesman estimates that the directive could go into effect by the end of the year. It is believed that the agreement will have consequences for the implementation of the digital treaties drafted by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). Sixteen countries have ratified the WCT, while 14 have ratified the WPPT. Each treaty needs to be ratified by 30 countries for implementation. On March 16, the 15 EU member states received formal approval from the European council to ratify the two treaties, upon agreement on the Copyright Directive.