Where EU member states stand on upload filters and the “link tax”

This Thursday, October 25, the second trilogue negotiation on the EU copyright reform takes place, in which the European Parliament and the Council (representing the member state governments) try to reach a compromise between their positions. You can find the trilogue’s draft agenda and the new compromise proposals here.

Where EU member states stand

Ahead […]

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Lifting the veil on the secretive EU copyright negotiations that start today: Here’s where we stand

Today, the first “Trilogue” meeting is held on the EU copyright reform law infamous for its “link tax” and upload filter provisions.

In this series of closed-door meetings, the European Parliament and the Council (representing the member state governments) hammer out a final text acceptable to both institutions. It’s the last chance to make changes before the Directive gets […]

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European Parliament endorses upload filters and “link tax”

The European Parliament today finalised its position on copyright reform. It voted to make nothing but cosmetic changes to the controversial plans for upload filters and a “link tax”.

Today’s decision is a severe blow to the free and open internet. By endorsing new legal and technical limits on what we can post and share […]

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Showdown on upload filters and the link tax on September 12: These are the options in front of MEPs

Before the summer, the European Parliament decided to rethink its position on EU copyright reform plans, including upload filters and a “link tax”, after massive protests.

Refusing to address the problems of his proposals in meaningful ways, rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP) failed to build broad consensus around an alternative plan. Consequently, over 200 individual proposals […]

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EU copyright reform will spell disaster for sports fans

A lot has been written about the danger the planned EU copyright reform poses for freedom of speech online, for memes and remixes, for software developers and startups. Below, my colleague Dan Dalton and I draw attention to another group that would be badly affected by the planned law: Sports fans across Europe.

filtering fan […]

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Out-of-control censorship machines removed my article warning of out-of-control censorship machines

A few days ago, about a dozen articles and campaign sites criticising EU plans for copyright censorship machines silently vanished from the world’s most popular search engine. Proving their point in the most blatant possible way, the sites were removed by exactly what they were warning of: Copyright censorship machines.

Among the websites that were […]

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People are taking to the streets on August 26th to #SaveYourInternet – join in!

A month ago, we made history: We stopped a law that would have massively restricted our freedom of expression in its tracks, dealing powerful lobbies an “unprecedented defeat”. Thank you for helping make that happen!

We’ve stopped the train – but the job is not finished: Now we must put it on the right track.

Decision […]

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What’s at stake in the July 5 #SaveYourInternet vote: The text, explained

On July 5 at noon, all 751 Members of the European Parliament will vote on whether to rubber-stamp the plans for upload filters and the “link tax”, or send them back to the drawing board. Please call them and ask them to do the latter!

What will they vote on exactly? Here’s the complete text […]

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These MEPs voted to restrict the internet in Europe today – but we’re not giving up

Today, MEPs on the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament were asked to decide: Should your freedom to participate on the web be restricted to serve corporate interests – or should alternative measures be adopted that safeguard fundamental rights?

Despite a massive outpouring of protest from voters during these last few days, the […]

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The internet after Axel Voss: What’s at stake in tomorrow’s copyright vote

Twenty-one months of debate are coming to a point. In less than 24 hours, the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will decide which of these two proposals will go ahead:

The Oettinger/Voss plans for a link tax and censorship machines, which will restrict how you can participate online all for the benefit of […]

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