Ahead of the trilogue meeting of 25 October on the draft EU directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, the International Federation of Actors (FIA), the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) and UNI – Media, Entertainment & Arts (UNI MEI) are calling on the EU institutions and member states to work towards a final text on Chapter III on the fair remuneration of authors and performers that is truly meaningful to them and can sensibly improve their livelihood.
Since the publication of the Commission proposal in September 2016, the three federations have worked with the EU institutions and national governments to strengthen the extremely weak and unacceptable position of authors and performers against overwhelming industry buy-out practices. To this day, most performers and authors only get an upfront, all-inclusive fee, in return for a global and permanent transfer of their licensing rights on all media and for all uses, known or yet to be discovered. This means that most performers and authors do not get a fair share of the benefits that their work generates.
Discussions have very much focused on the “value gap” and art. 13. However, the real value gap for media and entertainment workers is the one between them and their employers or engagers. Art. 13, no matter the language, merely seeks to articulate the relationship between our employers and certain types of platforms.
In a joint position issued to the representatives of the EU Institutions and member states, FIA, FIM and UNI MEI called on negotiators to achieve a meaningful balance in any compromise on Articles -14, 14, 15 and 16 regarding the fair remuneration of authors and performers. The unions urged the negotiation teams to work towards language that would give authors and performers a real chance to obtain fair remuneration for the use of their works, including in the online environment.
