The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) has issued a final call to Irish MEPS to support proposals that will secure creators’ copyrights online, ahead of a crucial vote on European copyright measures.
Earlier this month, the European Parliament’s JURI Committee voted to accept proposals that close the copyright ‘loophole’ which allows certain technology companies such as YouTube and Facebook to exploit creators’ rights in relation to user-uploaded content (Article 13 of the Copyright Directive). To date, these companies have not been required to fairly remunerate songwriters or music performers for the use of their work in user-uploaded content online.
Singer/songwriter and Chair of IMRO Eleanor McEvoy was among music creators from across Europe that met with MEPs at an event in Brussels on Wednesday to seek support for Article 13. Earlier, a petition with over 31,000 creators’ signatures, including 900 Irish signatories, was presented to attending MEPs.
Commenting, Eleanor McEvoy Chair of IMRO said, “As these proposals move to Plenary vote in early July, MEPs have a crucial opportunity to support the Irish music industry by ensuring creators receive a fair return for their works. Technology and music can and do work in harmony, and that’s great – but it has to be fair. Creators need to be paid for their work. I’m encouraged that the JURI Committee has recognised this and I would urge Irish MEPs to echo this support at Plenary by voting in favour of the copyright package as agreed by the JURI Committee of the European Parliament.”
Victor Finn, Chief Executive of IMRO said, ‘This event marks the final stage in a sustained campaign by IMRO and our European counterparts to ask the political system in Ireland and beyond to value creativity and the arts, as much as technology. Our position has always been that sharing of content online is good for music – for fans and for artists. What we are asking, is that like any professional in any sector, is that someone who writes, publishes and performs music gets a fair return for the use of their work. We hope for a positive outcome at Plenary and are seeking support of all Irish MEPs, Government and the wider political system to get this through. Ireland is known worldwide for our music. Now is the time to support it.”
The ‘Countdown to Plenary’ event was hosted by the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC), which represents IMRO at European level, and co-hosted by MEPs Jean-Marie Cavada and Axel Voss, with performances by Eleanor McEvoy and other musicians from across Europe.
