The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today

welcomed the call by Antonio Vitorino, the European Commission's mediator on copyright

contract law reform, for a fair share of licence revenues for journalists and

other creators. 

Vitorino, the mediator appointed by the European

Commission to review private copying and reprography levies, has recommended

the introduction of mandatory rules in copyright contract law or labour law to

ensure authors and performers receive an adequate share of income generated

from their works. He further pointed out that authors and performers suffer

from a lack of bargaining power and there is a need to improve the situation.

"We are glad that Mr Vitorino has backed our view that copyright

contract law must end unfair contracts and the imbalance in bargaining facing

journalists and other creators," said EFJ President Arne König.

The call came at the end of a detailed review of current

private copying and reprography levy systems in the EU. Vitorino's report

proposes replacing the current levy on the sales of copying equipment with a form

of licence-fee system. The levy collected should then be distributed to authors

and other rightholders.

The EFJ position was set out in a letter to Vitorino sent in May 2012.

"Private copying and reprography levies are an important

source of income for journalists," said König. "However, journalists and

creators can only benefit from it if two conditions are met."

"First, collecting societies collecting and distributing

these levies must operate in a democratic and transparent way to ensure fees

are distributed to journalists."

"Second, a copyright contract law that allows journalists

and creators to receive a fair share of licence revenues and an equal

bargaining footing must be put in place before a licence-fee system is introduced."

"Policy-makers should be reminded of the harsh reality that journalists

are often forced to sign away their authors' rights to employers," König

insisted. "This means that all revenues will go to the pocket of publishers.

Journalists will receive nothing in the end."

"This is particularly the case for freelances who are often

in a weaker position to negotiate against big media companies. Most of the

time, they are not even covered by collective agreements," said Mike

Holderness, freelance journalist and Chair of the EFJ Authors' Rights Expert

Group.

"We hope that Commissioner Michel Barnier will take this

particular recommendation on board to eradicate unfair contracts through the

legal guarantee of fair remuneration for authors in copyright contract law,"

said König. "Such a measure is long overdue."

Read Mr Vitorino's Recommendations HERE.

The

EFJ is the European group of the International Federation of Journalists and it

represents over 300,000 journalists in 37 countries.

For more information contact the EFJ at +32 2 235 2200