91998E2476

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2476/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Pirate production in the music industry

1. Is the Council aware of the difficulties encountered by the music industry as a consequence of pirate production through the Internet, which is depriving the industry of income estimated at some ECU 4,5 billion worldwide?

2. Is the Council aware that existing copyright legislation is much too weak to deal adequately with the problem of illegal copying of sound recordings?

3. What action is the Council prepared to take in the short term to put a stop to unlawful copying practices in the music industry?

4. Will the Council instruct the Commission to put pressure on countries in Central and Eastern Europe to take legal action against pirate producers?

Reply

(3 November 1998)

The Council is aware of the problems resulting from piracy in the music industry, including through the Internet.

With regard to the adaptation of copyright legislation in the Community to take account of the new digital environment, the Council has begun its examination of the Commission's proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information Society, and looks forward to receiving the European Parliament's Opinion at first reading on this proposal in the near future.

As far as music piracy in Central and Eastern European countries is concerned, the Council would point out that under the terms of the Europe Agreement, countries of Central and Eastern Europe with which such an Agreement has been concluded are obliged to improve the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights in order to provide for a level of protection similar to that existing in the Community, including comparable means of enforcing such rights. The Council is satisfied that the Commission is making every effort to ensure adequate protection of intellectual property rights by Central and Eastern European countries. The Council notes that the primary objective of the Europe Agreement and the enhanced pre-accession strategy is to ensure that countries which have applied for membership of the European Union arrive at a position in which they have adopted in full, and can implement effectively in all areas, the Community "acquis", including intellectual property rights.