EBLIDA calls on MEPs to vote YES to the JURI Report on INFOSOC
07 July 2015
Press Release
Ahead of the vote on the "Report on the Implementation of Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information Society (2014/2256(INI)” on 9 July 2015, EBLIDA is calling on all Members of the European Parliament to vote YES to the report in order to ensure and optimize access for European citizens through libraries, to science, education, and culture.
Restrictions under the current copyright law – that is no longer adequate in the digital age – have been identified as an obstacle to be overcome.
EBLIDA along with all national library, documentation and information associations of EU member states, welcomes unanimously the adoption on 16 June 2015 by a broad majority of members of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, of the report from rapporteur Julia Reda, calling for a change in European copyright law.
The report suggests, among other things, the introduction of new copyright exceptions such as:
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allowing libraries and archives the efficient digitisation of their holdings,
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allowing the lending of e-books via Internet.
These exceptions are essential for the development of efficient library services in the digital age.
On 9 July, the plenary of the European Parliament will vote on the report.
EBLIDA is asking each MEP to vote in favor of the measures referred to above, to ensure free access to knowledge, education, information, and culture in Europe in the future.
EBLIDA would like to thank top representatives of the German, Austrian and Swiss associations of libraries and documentation centres for their kind support in drafting this document.
