Misconceptions about the Copyright Directive – by MEP!

I just came across a couple of misconceptions that are haunting the minds of politicians after the approval of the copyright line. At the end of the day, you probably shouldn’t listen to politicians, but to people who know their stuff.

Let’s start with statements by our dear “friend” Voss. And yes, I probably violated a performance right with that post.

I am allowed to make a “private copy” for 500 friends? No further questions, your Honor. pic.twitter.com/kV3rRHcZsX

– Simon Hurtz (@SimonHurtz) March 25, 2019

The nice gentleman’s view of “public” should have absolutely no validity. As I just wrote, even posting pictures in a closed Facebook group can be copyright infringing.

Also wrong, in my opinion, is the statement that with the copyright reform (should they pass the Council) now suddenly everything, whether you have the right or not, can be published on Facebook or YouTube just like that, because the liability would pass to the platform

For the sake of argument: tweets from MEPs, even if they voted for a directive, are not a reliable guide to the content of that RL. So beware: not everything consumers up- and download is allowed (not “now” and not when RL is implemented) pic.twitter.com/fbMyX9FuZ0

– hans peter lehofer (@hplehofer) March 27, 2019

I can find no equivalent to this in Article 17 of the Directive. If the platforms are liable, that is, in addition to the user, and it can also be assumed (should courts not already infer otherwise) that platforms will use T&Cs in the future that allow platforms to hold themselves harmless from a user who has committed an infringement that caused the platform to be liable.

There will certainly be countless legal questions surrounding copyright reform that will keep lawyers and courts busy for a long time. However, neither the states, in implementing the directive, nor courts, in evaluating questions of detail or problems of interpretation, will suddenly turn decades-old principles on their heads!

So be careful with what you read from members of the European Parliament 😉

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.