The European Commission has published a Green Paper on how the regulatory framework might need to be set to develop new content distribution models.
In a statement the Commission said consumers increasingly expect to be able to watch content on a number of devices at a time of their choosing. It said business models needed to evolve rapidly to keep up with the ever-faster pace of technological change and the opportunities it presents.
“The results of this consultation will provide a significant contribution to the initiatives I am preparing, including a legislative proposal on collective copyright licensing, an examination of the framework set by the 2001 Information Society Directive, and a review of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Directive,” said Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier.
The paper discusses rights clearance for the online distribution of audiovisual media services. An assessment is needed of the extent to which there are problems in this area, the precise nature of such problems and the policy options that could be considered. It also asks whether authors and performers receive adequate remuneration for the online use of their work.