Commission report on collecting societies draft; Intel tomorrow

Collecting societies under threat?

The IPKat has been remiss thus far in failing to report on a draft decision from the European Commission which, if adopted, would lead to major reforms of Europe's music collecting societies. According to the Guardian, the draft, which has not yet been signed by EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes, berates the fact that the collecting societies operate as monopolies within their national borders, partitioning the EU market on national lines. It gives the collecting societies 90 days to terminate their agreements and calls on them to cross-license.

The draft has been criticised for not going far enough to break down national monopolies.

The IPKat notes that, from what little information is available, it seems that the Commission isn't too worried about the notion of collecting societies, but rather about the way in which they operate territorially. This territoriality is understandable, since copyright has grown up as a system of national rights with a slightly different focus in the different Member States.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow the Advocate General will deliver his Opinion in Intel v CPM - a UK reference on dilution. The IPKat will endeavour to bring you the lowdown tomorrow - as long as it isn't only in French.