A BALANCED COPYRIGHT FRAMEWORK IS THE KEY TO INNOVATIVE, DIVERSE, HIGH QUALITY CONTENT FOR EDUCATION

It is important that educators can rely on high quality, validated content. Public policies should encourage the production of local content, which guarantees the cultural diversity and the autonomy of Member States’ educational systems. A rich variety of content produced by the publishing sector reflecting different points of view is essential to democracy and freedom of expression.

European organisations representing writers and literary translators, visual artists, journalists, publishers and collective management organisations for reproduction rights launched the Content for Education Campaign to promote the sustainable production of innovative, local, diverse and high-quality content, which will benefit the education of future generations in Europe.

In particular, the campaign promotes a balanced exception for teaching, under Article 5 of the proposed EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. This mandatory exception allows for “the digital use of works for the purpose of illustration for teaching” in order to harmonise the legal framework for pedagogical uses in Europe.

While there is recognition of the proposal’s overall objective, the campaign wants to raise awareness about the potentially negative impact of an unbalanced exception for education. The unexpected negative consequences of a similar law introduced in Canada in 2012 demonstrates the damaging outcome if the balance is wrong and the importance of getting it right when it comes to agreeing the new EU rules.

Follow the campaign on twitter: @Content4Edu

Visit the website of the campaign:

Campaign partners: