Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 technology
Tuesday 16 april 2019
Europe looks to remold internet with new copyright rules

By KELVIN CHAN have powered online cul-
AP Business Writer ture and are often based
LONDON (AP) — The Euro- on or inspired by existing
pean Union has approved songs or movies or other
a copyright overhaul that content. The EU denies this.
aims to give more protec- “The new law makes ev-
tion to artists and news or- eryone a loser,” said Julia
ganizations but which crit- Reda, a lawmaker with the
ics say will stifle freedom of Pirate Party, which cam-
speech and online creativ- paigns for freedom of infor-
ity and punish smaller web mation online. “Artists, au-
companies. thors and small publishers
Artists, celebrities and tech will not get their fair remu-
experts have spoken out neration and internet users
both in favor and against will have to live with limited
the EU directive, which the freedoms. Artistic diver-
28 member states are re- sity has made the Internet
quired to adopt as law and colorful, but unfortunately
got final approval from the the copyright directive will
European Council Mon- make the Internet duller.”
day. In this Saturday, March 23, 2019 file photo, people protest against the copyright bill, in Leipzig, ___
Here’s a look at key issues. Germany. WILL IT HELP CONTENT CRE-
___ Associated Press ATORS?
WHAT DOES THE DIRECTIVE righted material isn’t up- end up having a chilling ef- social media sites to pay It depends on whom you
SAY? loaded to their platforms fect on freedom of expres- for linking to or offering up ask. The music industry and
The most vigorously de- without permission from the sion on the internet and snippets of news articles. other groups that collect
bated part of the legisla- original creator. It puts the could result in censorship. ___ royalties say the revamp
tion is a section that makes legal onus on platforms to Another section of the bill HOW WILL IT AFFECT INTER- will help give writers, artists
companies responsible for prevent copyright infringe- that caused concern re- NET PLATFORMS? and creators more protec-
making sure that copy- ment but critics say it will quires search engines and Some sites would be forced tion of their rights and in-
to license music or videos. comes, by requiring tech
If not, sites would have to giants such as Apple, Face-
make sure they don’t have book and Google to pay
unauthorized copyrighted them more for their work.
material. Critics worry that Some authors and art-
could lead to costly auto- ists fear they won’t earn
matic filtering. And paying significantly more money
for links could create fur- but their creativity will be
ther costs. stifled. Google estimates
That could give tech gi- it has paid out more than
ants an edge over smaller $3 billion to rights holders
companies. Google said through its Content ID sys-
last year it spent more than tem, which was created in
$100 million on Content ID, 2007.
its copyright management ___
system for approved users HOW HAVE PEOPLE REACT-
on YouTube, where more ED?
than 400 hours of content Some high profile artists
is uploaded every minute. have spoken out in favor.
The figure includes both Former Beatles member
staffing and computing re- Paul McCartney wrote an
sources. open letter to EU lawmak-
___ ers encouraging them to
HOW WILL IT SHAPE INTER- adopt the new rules.
NET CONTENT? But many appear worried
Critics say it could act as it will change the internet
censorship and change in- as we know it. More than
ternet culture. 5.2 million people signed
They say the automatic fil- an online petition against
ters are blunt instruments, them. Internet luminaries
deleting some material that such as Tim Berners-Lee,
should be allowed online. the inventor of the World
YouTube has warned of un- Wide Web, and Wikipedia
intended consequences, co-founder Jimmy Wales
saying that in cases where have spoken out against
copyright is uncertain, it it. So has the former front-
would have to block vid- man for the band Fugees,
eos to avoid liability. Wyclef Jean, who has said
Some consumers worry that he is better off financially
the new rules would bring because fans can freely
an end to parodies and vi- share his music on internet
ral internet “memes” that platforms.q