European Parliament calls for Right to Fair Remuneration for Authors

SAA welcomes the Resolution on a coherent EU policy for cultural and creative industries (CCIs) which calls for the “establishment of the right to fair remuneration and legal protection for authors”. SAA now calls on the Parliament to make this a reality by adding such a right for audiovisual authors in its work on the European Commission’s copyright Directive proposal.

Jointly drafted by Christian Ehler MEP (EPP, DE) and Luigi Morgano MEP (S&D, IT) the wide ranging resolution, adopted on 13th December, noted that “authors and performers are at the origin and the very source of the CCIs”, underlining that “digital technology and infrastructure rely on the content provided by creators”.

The adoption of the resolution by a massive majority with the support of 540 MEPs is a boost for screenwriters and directors ahead of discussions on the European Commission’s copyright reform proposals and suggests that authors will be firmly in the minds of MEPs as they legislate. Audiovisual authors’ organisations are calling on the European Parliament to strengthen the provisions in the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Copyright in the DSM and to add the right to fair remuneration through an unwaivable right to remuneration.

SAA has long supported such an approach and published an infographic to demonstrate the current situation of screenwriters and directors and why such an unwaivable remuneration right is necessary.

Cécile Despringre, Executive Director of the SAA said: “SAA is delighted that such a large majority in the European Parliament can get behind a right to fair remuneration for authors. They now have the opportunity to put this in legislation and make a massive difference to the lives of screenwriters and directors across Europe who are too often disconnected from the economic success of their works.”