European Parliament votes for slightly modified ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’
The European Parliament voted Wednesday on the revised copyright rules, which according to critics contain provisions on an ‘upload filter’ and ‘link tax’. These provisions have been adopted with minor changes. Reconciliation can begin with the adoption.
The European Parliament reports that its position was passed by 438 votes in favor and 226 votes against. It focuses on issues such as the sharing of revenue with artists and journalists by tech companies as a result of the new rules. The provisions should not have a negative impact on freedom of expression, for example by limiting the sharing of links or by stopping works that are not infringed by a filter.
MEP Julia Reda, a strong opponent of the proposals, reports on Twitter that the vote on article 11 was ‘catastrophic’. That article, the so-called link tax, or link tax, introduces a new right for publishers of press publications, with which they can limit the use of their articles. This also applies to links. According to Reda, under the amendments that have now been adopted, the inclusion of the title in a link to an article is already a violation. Links that are accompanied by a few words from the corresponding article would be allowed, according to the amendment that Reda refers to.
Also article 13 has been approved, which is an obligation to set an upload filter “entails. According to Reda, this obligation applies to all platforms that distribute material uploaded by users, with the exception of small parties. According to proponents, the new rules are actually necessary to protect right holders and to give them the opportunity to receive compensation for their work.
The vote in the European Parliament does not acknowledge that the legislative process is over. As the vote is now complete, the negotiations with the Council and the Commission can start. They are not public. The text that produces this procedure is then presented once more to the European Parliament. It is expected that this will take place at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The further the process progresses, the smaller the chance that fundamental changes will take place, writes Bits of Freedom which describes the current result as “disastrous.”
The legislative process surrounding the copyright reform has been in place since 2016 in progress.