EC eyes single market for digital content

Posted on 1 Aug 2006 at 11:51

The European Commission has begun a public consultation on ways to stimulate the growth of an EU single market for online digital content including films, music and games. The Commission hopes to encourage the development of new business models and promote the cross-border delivery of online content services.

The Western European online content sector already accounts for eight per cent of EU GDP and online content-sharing frameworks and markets are expected to triple by 2008.

Additionally, the availability and take-up of broadband Internet connections is making it easier for consumers not only to access a wider range of digital content than would have been imaginable ten years ago, but crucially, as the Commission acknowledges, also to create content themselves.

'Supplying content on line, such as films, music and games, not only helps to make Europe's culture more accessible, but will also be a tremendous opportunity for Europe's content industry to expand its own markets,' said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. 'Easy access to, and secure distribution of, online content is a crucial challenge. I expect input to today's consultation to identify clearly any remaining obstacles to a competitive, pan-European online content industry which the EU needs to tackle. Only a cross-border market for online content, in which authors, artists and creators are able to reap a fair reward for their talent and skills, will enable Europe's content sector to compete with other continents.'

The 'Content Online in Europe's Single Market' consultation asks a series of questions including: Which economic and regulatory barriers do online content services face in Europe's single market? How does the competitiveness of Europe's online content industry compare to that of other world regions? Would creative businesses benefit from Europe-wide or multi-territory licensing and clearance? And Is progress needed as regards interoperability of digital rights management (DRM) systems in Europe?

Further information on the public consultation and the consultation document can be found at ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/other_actions/content_online/index_en.htm. The deadline for replies is 13 October 2006 and the consultation will form a basis for the Commission Communication on Content Online, due at the end of the year.

The UK's Open Rights Group has opened a wiki page for answers to the consultation's questions.

Author: Simon Aughton