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Monitoring Reports


The EU policy monitoring reports for Wikimedia found here, aim to briefly inform the community and chapter staff about the most relevant ongoings in Brussels. Their primary mode of publication is the Advocacy Advisors mailing list.

This index archive was set up on this page to facilitate an overview and make topic-related searches easier. Also, an etherpad link to the upcoming issue wants to explicitly invite contributors to join the editing process.

Upcoming Report - Draft

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You can help us by dropping off a piece of information, writing a paragraph or format some text. Don't be shy!

Upcoming Report Draft

September 2024

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The new Commission structure and designated Commissioners have been published. We are now looking down at likely two months of hearings in the European Parliament. MEPs need to approve each candidate, else their national government and von der Leyen will have to nominate someone else.

Highlights

  1. New Commission
  2. Copyright & AI
  3. Child Safety

Full Report

July 2024

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We have a new class of MEPs and a Commission President confirmed for a second term. We are now slowly rolling out the outreach and monitoring the positioning of all the stakeholders and lawmakers. The parliament is in recess until 1 September and the hearings of the potential Commissioners won’t happen until well after that.

Highlights

  1. EC President's Political Guidelines
  2. Parliamentary Committees
  3. Political Groups' Priorities

Full Report

June 2024

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A new European Parliament was elected and while there was a shift to the right, the majorities that controlled the decision-making so far haven’t changed. They are slimmer, however. Which may make the votes of other groups more important, like the ECR (where the current Italian and Czech Prime Ministers' parties sit) or the Greens. Meanwhile, we are monitoring the composition of parliamentary committees and the likely re-organisation of some units within the European Commission

Highlights

  1. CSAM
  2. "Briefing Books"
  3. Copyright Unit

Full Report

May 2024

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With the European Parliament elections a week away we are keeping an eye on the tech priorities candidates bring up. We are also taking the time to pay more attention to national level developments and initiatives. Here, France is once again a major preoccupation.

Highlights

  1. Loi SREN
  2. WMSE & Swedish copyright reform
  3. WMF & DSA legal representation

Full Report

April 2024

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The perhaps last “digital” legislative file that made it across the finishing line ahead of the EU elections is on cyberviolence against women. The Child Sexual Abuse Materials regulation remains stuck. The AI Liability Act will remain on the next parliament’s to-do list. On another level, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg adopted its Anti-Slapp Recommendation. On yet another level, Italy is fighting puzzle makers.

Highlights

  1. Cyberviolence Against Women
  2. CoE Anti-SLAPPs Recommendation
  3. France: Loi SREN

Full Report

March 2024

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Things in Brussels are slowing down. The co-leiglsators are formally adopting the last reforms, while the Belgian Presidency is making one last attempt to get the regulation combatting CSA material over the finish line. Meanwhile the European Commission is offering a grant to build a repository of public domain and open licensed works.

Highlights

  1. CSAM
  2. PD Repository
  3. Political Ads
  4. EMFA

Full Report

February 2024

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Things are becoming quieter on our side. The Artificial Intelligence file is done. We have been to Strasbourg with Ivo Kruusamägi from Wikimedia Eesti to talk to government reps and potential allies about SLAPPs.

As timing goes, the last parliamentary plenary will take place on April 22-25. This is also the last chance to pass legislation during this mandate. Everything unfinished might be continued by the next parliament, but this is not a given

Highlights

  1. anti-SLAPP
  2. AI Act
  3. CSAM
  4. Cyber Violence

Full Report

January 2024

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As the European political families are gearing up for European Parliament elections in June, the legislative work is still really, really intensive. This is caused by the technical fact that if a file isn’t wrapped up by the end of February there simply won’t be enough time to formally adopt it.

Highlights

  1. EMFA
  2. anti-SLAPP
  3. CRA
  4. political advertising
  5. Regulation on EU crimes

Full Report

November 2023

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This month we will give you a more in-depth view of fewer files. In particular the Political Advertising Regulation seems to be reaching the finishing line. The AI Act, on the other hand, looks stuck.

Highlights

  1. political advertising
  2. AI
  3. copyright agenda setting

Full Report

October 2023

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The European Parliament elections are a bit over seven months away and EU legislators are struggling to squeeze through a few more reforms, before their time expires. In practice deals need to be wrapped up by February the latest, otherwise parliament won’t have time to vote on them during their final plenary session in April. We’ll take you through the open files.

Highlights

  1. EMFA
  2. CSAM
  3. Cyberviolence
  4. anti-SLAPP
  5. Software Liability

Full Report

September 2023

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Brussels business picked up very, very quickly in September and it is full steam ahead for regulations on media freedom while the regulation on fighting sexual abuse material online is in a decisive phase. We are approaching the end of the legislative term, after all. Simultaneously, France is causing headaches for everyone. Zut !

Highlights

  1. EMFA
  2. CSAM
  3. France: Loi SREN
  4. Italy: DSA Transposition

Full Report

July 2023

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Intro
The European Parliament is off on its summer break and won’t be back until the end of August. Other institutions are also winding down for the next few weeks. Here’s a last update of what was achieved in the last weeks and where we will pick up in September.

Highlights

  1. EMFA
  2. Political Ads
  3. Portugal & Anti-SLAPP
  4. French digital law

Full Report


June 2023

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Intro
Europe is hurtling towards a mass annual summer break in August, but before that everyone seems to be in a frenzy to get some progress done on their files. The European Commission is consulting on -a public “content moderation database”, France being France is trying to over-implement the DSA and pre-implement other digital files, while Germany is asking itself what to do with e-lending. Oh, yes, the Media Freedom Act is also moving forward. Can’t wait for the Sommerpause!

Highlights

  1. DSA Content Moderation Database
  2. Data Act done!
  3. EMFA
  4. Political Ads
  5. French digital law

Full Report

May 2023

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Intro
This month we were active on addressing age-verification requirements for online platforms and talking about liability for free software. We also got some good news on open access.

Highlights

  1. Age-Verification
  2. CRA
  3. CSAM

Full Report

April 2023

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Intro
We have a new colleague!

Highlights

  1. DSA - VLOP status
  2. CSAM
  3. Data Act
  4. "Fair Share"/NN

Full Report

March 2023

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Intro
Hello, everyone! Almost two weeks ago online platforms released their user numbers for the EU, including the Wikimedia Foundation, an obligation under the DSA. Else, the Commission is running a consultation on… well… de facto net neutrality. Meanwhile, the Parliament and Council are starting to think hard about liability and security of software, including a potential liability carve-out for free & open software.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Cyber Resilience Act
  3. Data Act
  4. "Fair Share"/NN
  5. EFN

Full Report

February 2023

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Intro
Hello, everyone! Almost two weeks ago online platforms released their user numbers for the EU, including the Wikimedia Foundation, an obligation under the DSA. Else, the Commission is running a consultation on… well… de facto net neutrality. Meanwhile, the Parliament and Council are starting to think hard about liability and security of software, including a potential liability carve-out for free & open software.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Cyber Resilience Act
  3. Data Act
  4. "Fair Share"/NN
  5. EFN

Full Report

January 2023

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Intro
Hello, everyone! The new year in Brussels is off to a rolling start, with about a dozen digital files continuing their legislative path. We are expecting the Commission to release a couple of new proposals in the first half of the year - most notably the so-called “Right to Repair” and “Gigabit Plan” initiatives. After that the focus will shift towards finalising whatever possible and preparing for the European Parliament elections next year.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Age-Gating
  3. Political Ads
  4. CSAM
  5. NN

Full Report

October 2022

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Intro
The European Commission is flooding Brussels with the last batch of legislative proposals, including updated liability for software and AI tools. Meanwhile online platforms are beginning to look into the implementation of the Digital Services Act.

Highlights

  1. AI Act
  2. Work Programme 2023
  3. NN

Full Report

September 2022

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Intro
The European Commission is flooding Brussels with the last batch of legislative proposals, including updated liability for software and AI tools. Meanwhile online platforms are beginning to look into the implementation of the Digital Services Act.

Highlights

  1. DSA implementation
  2. AI liability
  3. Data Act
  4. EMFA

Full Report

July 2022

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Intro
The EU institutions, as most of Europe, are shutting down for the next few weeks, so we are giving you an update of all relevant files before we do the same. It is way longer to read than usual, sorry! But we will use this ourselves as a cheat sheet to refresh our memories during la rentrée in September.

Highlights

  1. all files

Full Report

June 2022

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Intro
The French government has vowed to invest money in the commons. Rub your eyes, read it again and then continue reading below.

Highlights

  1. Digital Commons
  2. CSAM
  3. Net Neutrality
  4. Italy
  5. Disinfo

Full Report

April 2022

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Intro
The big event of the month was definitely the political deal on the EU’s new content moderation rulebook, the Digital Services Act. There are a few new obligations in there for Wikimedia and we will take you through them. Next month we are also organising a Wikicheese event in Brussels. You may spread the word!

Highlights

  1. DSA deal
  2. Wikicheese
  3. Danish content moderation law

Full Report

March 2022

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Intro
The French Presidential elections have certainly changed dynamics in Brussels. The French Presidency of the Council is willing to accept compromises in order to wrap up reforms and show progress. Critics say this leads to technically half-baked solutions. Our wrap up of the month of March at warp speed!

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. DMA - It's a wrap!

Full Report

February 2022

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Intro
Let’s start with the unpleasant: The war in Ukraine has of course made it to the top of everyone’s agenda, as it should. Work on files still continues, but the energy is different and we expect the pace to slow down. At the same time, this war is being played out on online platforms and certain aspects are being picked up by lawmakers when discussing their regulation.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Data Act
  3. DMA
  4. Online Political Advertising
  5. AI
  6. Finland

Full Report

January 2022

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Intro
Let’s start with the basics: Happy New Year! Beyond that the most notable piece of news is that the European Parliament has adopted its position on the new content moderation rules, a.k.a. Digital Services Act and “trilogues” are starting today. We will also give you an overview of what to expect this year from the European Commission in terms of proposals.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Commission Work Plan
  3. AI
  4. Austria, Estonia, Spain

Full Report

November 2021

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Intro
The online regulation files are moving forward at light-speed by Brussels standards. Proposed December last year, the Council has now wrapped up its position on both files, while the Parliament has its position on the Digital Markets Act. On the Digital Services Act we expect the lead committee to come to an agreement before the Christmas break. This way the final, inter-institutional negotiations can start very early 2022. Also, the Data Governance Act is the first digital file to be finalised during the current legislative period.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. DMA
  3. DGA done!
  4. France & Spain

Full Report

October 2021

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Intro
The key parliamentary committee votes on acts regulating platforms, DSA and DMA, were postponed from their 8 November dates. The new voting date could be as early as the end of November or as late as February next year. In the meanwhile, the Council seemingly dropped a suggestion to oblige platforms, including Wikimedia’s, to react to take down notices within 24 hours.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. DMA
  3. AI Act
  4. DGA Trilogue
  5. Copyright reforms

Full Report

September 2021

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Intro
It’s rainy and it is a Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act frenzy. We are very close to seeing something materialise that almost never happens: the legislator sticking to its timeline. We will try to take aboard the policy whirl.

Highlights

  1. DSA frenzy
  2. DMA frenzy
  3. E-Privacy Trilogue
  4. Copyright consultations in AT and BG

Full Report

July 2021

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Intro
Summer break started. DSA amendments & Malta introduces public domain safeguard.

Highlights

  1. DSA IMCO amendments
  2. Copyright transposition

Full Report

June 2021

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Intro
"DSA Month", thousands of amendments. France tires to pre-transpose the DSA.


Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. French Republican Values Bill
  3. DMA
  4. Data Act Feedback

Full Report

May 2021

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Intro
The Regulation on tackling terrorist content online is a done deal! We want to push for open source AI in the public sector. Also, it is finally time to go after the sui generis database right.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. AI Regulation
  3. Data Act
  4. DMA

Full Report

April 2021

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Intro
Wow! What a month! The Terrorist Content Regulation passed without a final vote, an Artificial Intelligence law was proposed unexpectedly quickly and over 600 amendment proposals to the Data Governance Act were tabled. And, and... we started a blog!

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. AI Regulation
  3. DGA
  4. wikimedia.brussels

Full Report

March 2021

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Intro
There is little real progress on the Digital Services Act, as the European Parliament committees are bickering about competencies. On the other hand TERREG and the Data Governance Act and E-Evidence are moving ahead. Sorry for the longer read, but plenty of nuance to unpack.

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. DSA
  3. E-Evidence
  4. DGA

Full Report

February 2021

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Intro
This month we wanted to bring you closer to the actual legislative procedures of the DMA and DSA. Plus, a little update on artificial intelligence (still nothing palpable).

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. Digital Targets 2030
  3. DMA
  4. AI/ML

Full Report

January 2021

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Intro
Member States are rushing national DSA-like rules in a frenzy while MEPs fight over committee competencies.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. France's "Republican Values" law
  3. DGA
  4. TERREG

Full Report

December 2020

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Intro
Special edition covering the DSA & DMA proposals.

Highlights

  1. DSA
  2. DMA
  3. DGA
  4. TERREG
  5. E-Evidence

Full Report

November 2020

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Intro
We are all waiting for the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act - this legislative term’s cornerstone digital dossiers expected to reshuffle the responsibilities of online platforms. To pass the time, the Commission has published its proposal for a Data Governance Act - a regulation that wants to open up European data for business and research without relying on very large platforms collecting data. Meanwhile, the Terrorist Content Regulation is seemingly stuck in trilogues.

Highlights

  1. Data Governance Act
  2. TERREG
  3. Article 17 Hearing

Full Report

October 2020

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Intro
As Brussels is locking down, some of the few conversations still happening physically in town are the TERREG trilogue meetings. The E-Evidence file is stalling in its EP committee (good!). Meanwhile we are gearing up for the proposals on data governance and the Digital Services Act package.

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. DSA/DMA
  3. e-Evidence

Full Report

September 2020

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Intro
La rentrée ! Well, kind of… We are still figuring out the COVID rules as we go and most events and meetings are online. But other than that EU Brussels seems to be back to business as usual. Your policy team has been working hard to wrap up “consultation season”, taking positions on the Digital Services Act, Competition Rules, a Recommendation on Digitising Cultural Heritage and Electronic Evidence Gathering, among others. Have a fun read!

Highlights

  1. DSA Reports
  2. Competition Tool
  3. e-Evidence

Full Report

July 2020

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tl;dr
Hello, folks! This month, for a change of pace, we have decided to list all the files we are working on and give you a tl;dr overview of what they are about. So a bit of a fireworks edition, since it is still consultation season and a lot of ideas are being floated. This will continue until the legislative funnel narrows toward the end of the year. For now it is a frenzy...

Highlights

  1. DSA Consultation
  2. Cultural Heritage Consultation
  3. Art. 17 Consultation

Full Report

June 2020

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tl;dr
Hello, folks! This month, for a change of pace, we have decided to list all the files we are working on and give you a tl;dr overview of what they are about. So a bit of a fireworks edition, since it is still consultation season and a lot of ideas are being floated. This will continue until the legislative funnel narrows toward the end of the year. For now it is a frenzy...

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. DSA
  3. Competition
  4. AI
  5. Data Strategy
  6. E-Evidence
  7. Disinfo
  8. CDSM Transposition
  9. Hungary

Full Report

May 2020

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tl;dr
We have an updated work programme by the Commission: Digital Services Act will be proposed by the end of the year, but the Artificial Intelligence dossier is being pushed back and is now expected first half of 2021. Meanwhile the European Parliament is gathering input from MEPs on both these topics in an array of non-binding reports.

Highlights

  1. DSA Amendments
  2. Data Strategy & AI Consultations
  3. Competition Consultation

Full Report

April 2020

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tl;dr
The EU’s “consultation season” remains well on track during lockdown, despite some delays. We are currently working on the Data Strategy and Artificial Intelligence consultations and are expecting the European Commission to open the Digital Services Act consultation by the end of May. Meanwhile, three MEPs have published their draft opinion reports on the latter.

Highlights

  1. DSA Reports & Consultation
  2. Data Strategy & AI Consultations
  3. TERREG Letter

Full Report

March 2020

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tl;dr
The EU is by now in full COVID-19 crisis mode, the institutions are working from home, including plenary sessions of the European Parliament that allowed for the first time ever remote voting by email. Member States are asking and will get an extension on all transposition deadlines and legislative proposals as well as consultations - think platforms liability, AI, data strategy, terrorist content - will certainly be delayed.

Highlights

  1. COVID-19 Delays
  2. DSA
  3. AI Consultation

Full Report

Febrary 2020

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tl;dr
Terrorist Content Online is hot in the Parliament and is taking a worrying turn, Online Content Moderation is THE topic in national capitals and Brussels is trying to stop them with its own effort. A Data Data Strategy, which includes open data) is to be written and the Commission is asking for input.

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. Content Modearation
  3. AI @ BFBM

Full Report

January 2020

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tl;dr

Highlights

  1. New Work Programme of Commission
  2. DSA
  3. BFBM announced

Full Report

October 2019

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tl;dr

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. Art. 17 Stakeholder Dialogue
  3. National (C) Transposition Updates

Full Report

September 2019

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tl;dr

Highlights

  1. TERREG
  2. New Dossiers
  3. ePrivacy

Full Report

July 2019

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tl;dr
As Europe is preparing to go into a prolonged period of torpor (yes, we don’t get work done here in August), the Commission and Parliament in Brussels are churning out consultations, statements and documents indicative of future legislative work. Terrorism, platforms, “artificial intelligence”, digitisation of cultural heritage, privacy, performers rights - there really is something for everyone!

Highlights

  1. Digital Services Act
  2. TERREG
  3. AI
  4. Recommendation 2011/711/EC
  5. E-Privacy
  6. Performers Rights
  7. Disinformation
  8. CDSM Transposition

Full Report

June 2019

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tl;dr
The political groups and Member States are still negotiating the next Commission President. The committee appointments will become public next week. Meanwhile work on the transposition of the copyright reform is picking up across Europe.

Highlights

  1. Group strength and committees
  2. Privacy Shield
  3. ePrivacy

Full Report

May 2019

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tl;dr
C’est parti ! A new Parliament was voted in and the dust is now settling. Committee appointments are currently being negotiated

Highlights

  1. Post-EU Elections Dust Settling
  2. Poland Challenges Article 17 at CJEU
  3. Transposition of Copyright Directive

Full Report

April 2019

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tl;dr
The regulation on preventing online dissemination of terrorist content, as well as a general restructuring of the intermediary protection rules, will be two hot topics for the next European Commission and Parliament after the elections. Copyright is a wrap and it is now up to the Member States to transpose it.

Highlights

  1. TERREG - after elections
  2. Copyright - wrapped up
  3. E-Commerce - in the pipeline
  4. BFBM6 - imminent

Full Report

March 2019

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tl;dr

The EU copyright reform ends the way it started: absurdly. We need to look at national transpositions now.

Highlights

  1. Copyright - adopted
  2. TERREG - postoned
  3. BFBM6 - coming
  4. Absudrities - continuing

Full Report


February 2019

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tl;dr

This month we have a two-issues report for you: The final vote on copyright is three weeks away and the Terrorism Regulation will be voted on by two out of three responsible committees on Monday.

Highlights

  1. Copyright
  2. TERREG

Full Report

January 2019

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tl;dr
Elections are in four months, which gives everyone less than three months to wrap up the files they have been working on for years. Copyright, terrorist content, privacy open data, disinformation - everything's hot and everything's messy.

Highlights

  1. Copyright - Macron Calls Merkel
  2. PSI Directive now Open Data Directive
  3. TERREG - time for amendments

Full Report

November 2018

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tl;dr
Copyright trilogues have been revolving around text and data mining, safeguarding the public domain and fair remuneration, leaving the more contentious articles 11 and 13 largely untackled. The Public Sector Information Directive dealing with open data has or will shortly receive a green light by both legislative bodies, making it very likely it will be adopted early 2019.

Highlights

  1. Copyright - Trilogues
  2. PSI Directive
  3. Terrorism Regulation
  4. First ever Monsters of Law in Brussels

Full Report

October 2018

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tl;dr
The European Parliament, Commission and Council are negotiating the final version of the copyright reform, including text and data mining, public domain safeguards and upload filters. Meanwhile, the recast of the Public Sector Information Directive is picking up pace and the Terrorism Regulation is becoming yet another legislative proposal that could introduce upload filtering.

Highlights

  1. Copyright - Trilogues
  2. PSI Directive
  3. Terrorism Regulation

Full Report

September 2018

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tl;dr
The European Parliament approved a copyright mandate that is detrimental to user rights and introduces new exclusive rights. Meanwhile, the recast of the Public Sector Information Directive is picking up pace.

Highlights

  1. Copyright - Trilogues Begin
  2. PSI Directive
  3. ePrivacy Regulation
  4. Tackling Illegal Content

Full Report

August 2018

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tl;dr
Ahead of the next important copyright vote on 12 September everyone is waiting to see what new compromises and amendments will be on the slate.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Plenary Vote
  2. Wikimedia events
  3. PSI Directive

Full Report

June 2018

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tl;dr
This time we will call it a “EU copyright reform special”, so prepare to read a single-issue report.


Highlights

  1. JURI vote
  2. Plenary vote in 5 July
  3. Wikimedia activities

Full Report

May 2018

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tl;dr
The Council adopted a negotiating mandate on copyright. The European Parliament is discussed a seventh compromise proposal on “upload filters” today and is expected to vote on 20 June. After that, the two institutions will have to agree on a common version.


Highlights

  1. Council mandate on copyright
  2. Preparing for the trilogue
  3. Trade Talks and IPR

Full Report

April 2018

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tl;dr
The Council of the EU failed to reach a decision on copyright reform last Friday, meaning bickering between Member States will continue well into May. Meanwhile the Parliament is making timid progress towards a committee vote still scheduled on 21 June.


Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - No COREPER deal
  2. PSI Directive Update Proposed
  3. French jurisprudence: Chambord vs. Kronenbourg

Full Report

March 2018

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tl;dr
Full throttle in Brussels this month - copyright decisions on education, the public domain and upload filtering seem possible in the European Parliament, while filters are still pending in the Council. The PSI Directive and the Database Directive reforms are being drafted.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - EP & Council Updates (Wikipedia carve-out?)
  2. PSI Directive Reform
  3. Tackling Illegal Content Online

Full Report

February 2018

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tl;dr
Actions against upload filters going on in several countries as the Council and Parliament discussions enter decisive phase..

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - Article 13
  2. Copyright Reform - Education & Preservation
  3. Tackling Illegal Content Online Commission Recommendation
  4. Fake News - What is Wikimedia's role?


Full Report

January 2018

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tl;dr
The new Bulgarian Presidency of the Council is attempting some subtle moves on copyright [0], while the Parliament seems to be gaining speed (but not compromises) in its lead committee. “Fake news” were also talked about.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - BG Presidency Questions
  2. Copyright Reform - JURI Compromises
  3. Fake News
  4. Is NC illegal?

Full Report

November 2017

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tl;dr
It is the final weeks of a digital policy frenzy here in Brussels before the institutions go into hibernation from 11 December. The Estonian Presidency is doing all it can to get a Council negotiating position on copyright by year’s end, but isn’t likely to make it. Meanwhile, the lead committee of the European Parliament is struggling to find compromises and is expected to postpone the vote.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - Again Council Compromises
  2. Copyright Reform - JURI stalls
  3. IPRED Communication

Full Report

October 2017

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tl;dr
The crucial copyright vote in the European Parliament has been postponed until at least the end of January. The Council negotiations have been fed a new round of compromises drafted by Estonia.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - New Council Compromises
  2. e-Privacy Regulation passes EP
  3. PSI Directive Consultation

Full Report

September 2017

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tl;dr
The crucial committee vote on copyright has been postponed giving us several extra months to prepare. The Member States are discussing a common position in the Council and some of them are worrying about fundamental rights.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - New timeline and Council discussions
  2. AVMSD
  3. Digital Contracts

Full Report

August 2017

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tl;dr
Most of Europe literally shuts down in August, but the past week has seen activities accelerate back to full swing. We are setting the stage for a decisive Legal Affairs committee vote on copyright, for which the compromises will be negotiated in September.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - Parliament compromises and Council leaks
  2. Database Directive
  3. New European Civil Liberties organisation "CLUE"

Full Report

July 2017

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tl;dr
The most important European Parliament vote for the copyright reform will take place in the Legal Affairs committee on 10 October. So far, we have had one rather forward-looking opinion from the Internal Market committee and two backwards oriented opinions from the Culture and Industry committees.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - Ahead of Lead Committee
  2. Database Directive
  3. New restrictions for photographs in Latvia

Full Report

June 2017

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tl;dr
After the vote in the Internal Market Committee, which approved FoP and UGC exceptions, as well as a public domain protection, industry pressure is increasing on all other committees. The most important vote will be on 10 October in the Legal Affairs Committee.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform - EP Committees
  2. AVMSD
  3. Database Directive Consultation

Full Report

May 2017

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tl;dr
An all important Internal Market Committee (IMCO) vote on copyright is next week. As IMCO has joint responsibility on this file, their final wording on the “upload filtering” article is crucial. ACTION REQUIRED

Highlights

  1. IMCO Vote on Copyright
  2. CULT and LIBE Committees Progress
  3. Database Directive Consultation

Full Report

April 2017

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tl;dr
Ça y est ! The copyright amendments in the lead European Parliament committees have been proposed. From now on we are focused on building consensus and forging compromises. In the meanwhile, we answered the European Commission’s consultation on “data driven economy”, telling them that a new related right on data isn’t a swell idea. In Hungary, a new proposed law might make operating NGOs with funds from abroad very unpleasant.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform Amendments
  2. Data Economy Consultation
  3. Hungarian NGO Bill

Full Report

March 2017

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tl;dr
The EU copyright reform has entered into the first decisive phase in the European Parliament. The lead committee (Legal Affairs) is collecting amendment proposals until 12 April. After that, the rapporteur and her shadows will try to make sense of all the proposals and find compromises that can be carried by majorities. This is the first chance for us to include the changes we need in this reform. Our priorities are FoP, Public Domain, TDM and UGC.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform
  2. Digital Contracts
  3. Big Fat Brussels Meeting 4

Full Report

January 2017

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The hot phase of the EU copyright reform is getting closer. We are currently talking to the decisive MEPs on a number of issues: text and data mining, Freedom of Panorama, safeguarding the public domain, ancillary copyright, upload filtering, linking and databases

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform
  2. Data Economy Consultation
  3. E-Privacy

Full Report

November 2016

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Brussels was very much preoccupied with the proposed EU copyright reform in November. The European Parliament appointed responsible committees and rapporteurs. We have a timeline that will give us time until March to propose changes. Wikimedia drafted several changes and started discussing them with potential partners and decision-makers.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform
  2. AVMS
  3. E-Privacy

Full Report

October 2016

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Copyright reform: Action, action, action!

Highlights

  1. National consultations
  2. Top priorities
  3. Main risks

Full Report

September 2016

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Copyright reform announced.

Highlights

  1. Limited copyright exceptions
  2. Ancillary copyright
  3. Intermediary liability

Full Report

July 2016

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DG CNCT is bravely working trough the heat to prepare its copyright (reform) package on 21 September.

Highlights

  1. Copyright
  2. Privacy Shield
  3. Net Neutrality

Full Report

June 2016

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An interesting case in Beglium on levies gives new spin to EU copyright reform momentum

Highlights

  1. FoP in Belgium
  2. Image Levies in France
  3. Reprobel case

Full Report

May 2016

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3rd DSM Package (no liability) and FoP in Belgium

Highlights

  1. No intermediary liability regime change
  2. FoP in Belgium
  3. Privacy Shield DOA

Full Report

April 2016

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Our FoP consultation strategy is ready.

Highlights

  1. FoP Consultation
  2. Auiovisual Media Services Directivwe
  3. Text and data mining

Full Report

March 2016

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A new consultation focusing exclusively on Freedom of Panorama and a rebranded ancillary copyright proposal.

Highlights

  1. FoP Consultation
  2. Ancillary Copyright Consultation
  3. IPRED Consultation

Full Report

February 2016

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Plenty of work on Freedom of Panorama in the Member States this month, which is important as shifting the negotiation preconditions for a few national governments is a very efficient way to change the dynamics in Brussels.

Highlights

  1. FoP in France
  2. FoP in Belgium
  3. BEREC's NN guidelines

Full Report

January 2016

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The Database Directive is suddenly “up for grabs”, European news media publishers split over internal differences and France might soon live to see a Freedom of Panorama exception.

Highlights

  1. Digital Single Market Strategy
  2. Database Directive
  3. FoP in France

Full Report

November 2015

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The European Commission wants a fully harmonised copyright. One day. For now, they are planning two reform packages - in December and June 2016. Simultaneously there is more and more pressure on regulating a new enforcement and liability regime online.

Highlights

  1. Copyright Reform Package
  2. Enforcement
  3. SatCab Directive

Full Report


October 2015

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The Telecoms Single Market package is finally through. It establishes some very limited form of network neutrality and promises the end of roaming, kind of. Copyright reform will be split into two packages – an uncontroversial one in December and a more ambitious one next year.

Highlights

  1. Telecoms Single Market Regulation passed (Net Neutrality rules)
  2. Copyright reform to be split
  3. Digital Single Market 2016-2020 Consultation

Full Report

September 2015

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The European Commission is running a consultation on intermediary liability, in France and Belgium FoP is becoming a national topic and this year’s Big FAT Brussels Meeting will take place on the 20-21 November.

Highlights

  1. Platforms Consultation
  2. EP Parliamentary Questions on FoP
  3. Data Protection Umbrella Agreement

Full Report

May 2015

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Two weeks until the committee vote that will include FoP and PDGo. Wikimedia co-hosted a Freedom of Panorama event in the EP. That Commission officially announced a Digital Single Market Strategy.

Highlights

  1. 14 days ahead of the our compromises still not finalised
  2. Wikimedia co-hosts FoP event in the EP
  3. European Commission presents Digital Single Market strategy

Full Report

April 2015

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Vote on “Reda Report” postponed by more than a month. FoP is looking good. PDGov is a toss-up.

Highlights

  1. Reda Report
  2. Wikimedia Events
  3. Net Neutrality

Full Report

March 2015

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Two of our main goals, Freedom of Panorama and Government Works in the Public Domain have been proposed in the draft report on the Implementation of the InfoSoc Directive (a.k.a. “Copyright Directive”). However a large number of the tabled amendments aim at limiting or removing the original paragraphs.

ToC

  1. InfoSoc Implementation Draft Report Amendment Proposals Published
  2. IMCO Committee Vote on Opinion for InfoSoc Implementation Report
  3. Commission Hates Geo-Blocking and/or Alarm Clocks
  4. NYU/HEC EU Regulatory Clinic Work on Freedom of Panorama

Full Report

February 2015

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There are two copyright theatres at this point - the European Parliament and the European Commission. The former is working towards the media, the latter is writing away in a cloud of mystery. Wikimedia is engaging in both on an ongoing basis.

ToC

  1. IMCO, CULT & ITRE Committees Publish Draft Opinions on Copyright Reform
  2. Wikimedia Participates in High-Level Roundtable with Commissioner Oettinger
  3. AskAnsip and AskOettinger Twitter Events
  4. Scope and Terms of Wikimedia Requested PD Contribution Study

Full Report

January 2015

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While the Commission is quietly and sometimes reluctantly drafting a copyright reform proposal, the European Parliament is in the middle of trying to find its position on the matter by writing an own-initiative report.

ToC

  1. EP Report on the Implementation of the 2001 InfoSoc Directive
  2. Intergroup on the Digital Agenda and Positions of the Commission
  3. Parliamentary Question on PDGov
  4. WIPO Broadcast Treaty

Full Report

November 2014

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tl;dr
To be extra popular, we’re keeping it rather short. Some data protection and plenty of copyright.

ToC

  1. The Google Spain Case and the “Right to be Forgotten”
  2. European Commission Work Programme 2015
  3. Copyright Reform Perspectives: Directive or Regulation and what about France & Belgium?
  4. Freedom of Panorama/Wikimedia in the media

Full Report

October 2014

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The Court of Justice of the EU ruled, that embedding copyrighted videos cannot constitute copyright infringement. The European Wikimedia chapters published their position paper on copyright reform in the EU.


ToC

  1. FKAGEU: Position paper on EU copyright published
  2. CJEU: Copyright ruling on embedded videos
  3. Commissioner Ansip: offline and online hearings
  4. Commissioner Oettinger: Internet levies? Ancillary copyright? “Google

tax”?

Full Report

September 2014

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The new Commissioner for Digital Economy & Society performed unconvincingly in his European Parliament hearing but said he wants to produce a copyright reform proposal in 6 months’ time. While the Commissioners are being checked out by the members of parliament, some of their units are moving offices - most notably for us the copyright unit is moving from DG MARKT to DG CONNECT.

ToC

  1. EP Hearings: Commissioner for Digital Economy & Society GuentherOettinger
  2. Restructuring the EC: Copyright unit moving from MARKT to CONNECT
  3. CETA: Released text contains chapters on e-commerce and IPR
  4. CJEU: Judgement on digitisation and access to works on libraries
  5. Recommended reads

Full Report

July 2014

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The copyright reform white paper and impact assessment were postponed, while at about the same time the new Commission President made reforming copyright his top priority. Meanwhile the EC proclaimed Creative Commons licenses as a de-facto standard for public sector information, albeit in non-binding guidelines.

ToC

  1. Copyright Consultation Review Released
  2. EU Recommends Free Licenses for Public Sector Information
  3. New Commission President Makes Copyright Reform Top Priority
  4. Recommended Action: Advocacy at Wikimania

Full Report

June 2014

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A draft of the White Paper on copyright was leaked and looks very vague. A court decision confirmed that caching when browsing the internet does not constitute a copyright infringement.

ToC

  1. Leaked White Paper on Copyright
  2. Meltwater Case Decision by the CJEU
  3. EU Libraries May Digitise Books Without Asking Permission
  4. Next Steps in Brussels - Parliamentary Groups, Committees and Commissioners

Full Report

May 2014

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A ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union turned the “right to be forgotten” from a philosophical concept to a Google form with submit button. Meanwhile the European Council is thinking about its position on net neutrality while the European Parliament is constituting its committees.

ToC

  1. Court decision grants EU citizens the “right to be forgotten” by search engines
  2. Net Neutrality negotiations in the European Council
  3. Post-Election Political Groups, Parliamentary Committees and Commissioners

Full Report

April 2014

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Everyone here turned back to their Member States to work on their reelection. This gives us some time to concentrate on case law and take a closer look at what the Commission has been up to.

ToC

  1. Commission Works on Copyright Reform - leaks, studies and a White Paper
  2. ECHR Case Delfi vs. Estonia - website liability for user comments
  3. CJEU Case ACI Adam vs. Thuiskopie - lawfulness of private copies
  4. Net Neutrality Legislation - European Paliament adopts its final version

Full Report

March 2014

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Brussels politics is generally calming down ahead of the elections with the notable exception the crucial net neutrality vote this week. Meanwhile the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that web site blocking orders do not have to be specific.

ToC

  1. CJEU: „UPC Telekabel Wien“ Decision
  2. TTIP: EU-US Talks on Web Hosting Liability
  3. Net Neutrality: Decision Imminent
  4. Big Fat Brussels Meeting vol. 2

Full Report

February 2014

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A White Paper on copyright can be expected before the summer break, according to Commissioner Barnier. He also wants to revive the attempts for "notice and action" legislation, although even his staff in Brussels was unaware of that. In Luxembourg, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that no extra permission is needed to link to content available online. Finally, in Strasbourg, the Parliament passed the Collective Rights Management Directive explicitly allowing "non-commercial" licensing.

ToC

  1. Beyond the Copyright Consultation
  2. CJEU: Linking to Copyrighted Content Without Permission Legal
  3. Restarting the Notice and Take Down Directive
  4. Collective Rights Management Directive Adopted
  5. Short Stories: Internet Governance, Food Porn and a Study on InfoSoc

Full Report

January 2014

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Just one more week to go until the Copyright Consultation by the Commission closes. At the same time the Data Protection reform has officially been postponed for the next legislative period. Surprisingly, the Network Neutrality dossier is moving ahead at a steady pace.

ToC

  1. Copyright Consultation
  2. Committee Vote on the EU Single Market for Electronic Communications
  3. EU Data Protection Regulation Delayed

Full Report

November 2013

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Copyright reform dialogue,PSI guidelines and study on the “contribution of public domain works and open licensing to the European economy” likely to come.

ToC

  1. New Copyright Reform Consultation Announced
  2. Public Sector Information Hearing in Luxembourg
  3. Study on Public Domain and Open Licensing by EC
  4. Trademark Directive and Encyclopedias

Full Report

October 2013

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Open Access is to be compulsory in the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme. The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that an Estonian website is liable for third-party comments on their website. The European Parliament LIBE committee has passed its version of the Data Protection Regulation, making the "right to be forgotten" into the "right to be erased".

ToC

  1. European Court of Justice Backs Freedom of Information
  2. European Court Rules Website Liable for Third-Party Comments
  3. Studies on Intellectual Property Released & IP Infringements Observatory Meeting
  4. Open Access in EU’s Horizon 2020 Funding Programme
  5. Data Protection Regulation - Committee Vote
  6. Commission Requesting Citizens’ Feedback on Internet Policies
  7. Creative Commons Takes Global Position on Copyright Reform

Full Report

September 2013

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There is a chance that the General Data Protection Directive will be negotiated behind closed doors. The Commission has tabled its proposal for a network neutrality regulation including “specialised services” permission. We at the Free Knowledge Advocacy Group are writing up a mission statement.

ToC

  1. Surveillance and Data Protection
  2. Net Neutrality
  3. Revision of the PSI Directive
  4. TTIP
  5. EU Launches OER Initiative
  6. Free Knowledge Advocacy Group EU - Drafting the Mission Statement
  7. Open Policy Network by Creative Commons

Full Report

July 2013

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From a Wikimedian’s perspective, the most significant events were the signing of two open letters as a reaction to PRISM (by WMF and WMDE) and the Committee vote on the Collective Rights Management Directive. This is the Directive that will decide whether it will be legal for musicians to donate single pieces of music to our projects.

ToC

  1. Prism and Data Protection - Reactions and Wikimedia actions
  2. Collective Rights Management Directive - Committee vote passes
  3. Licences for Europe - Inside the work groups
  4. Net Neutrality - Leaked draft
  5. Notice and Takedown - And now what?
  6. Meet us in Hong Kong!

Full Report

June 2013

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In June, NSA PRISM news have had a firm grip on public and political attention in Brussels, resulting in a loss of focus on several relevant proceedings. July is expected to be hotter, as a lot of work will be rushed through before the break in August.

As we’re experimenting with the best possible format, the articles in this report will be kept shorter than in the previous one. Feedback appreciated.

In the coming weeks the EU Policy Portal on Meta will be further developed to reflect current ongoings and become a topical information hub. Keep an eye on it!

ToC

  1. Licenses for Europe - Turbulences and Midterm Reports
  2. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership - Audiovisual Exception Adopted by EP
  3. EU Data Protection - LIBE Committee Vote Postponed
  4. Network Neutrality - Commissioner Kroes Expected to Propose Legislation
  5. Future of Copyright Contest - A Way to Share Your Vision

Full Report

May 2013

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The first monitoring report on EU Policy strives to give a brief overview over current legislative debates in Brussels that might be of interest to the Wikimedia movement. We have five topics.

ToC

  1. Collective Rights Management and Online Use
  2. EU-US Trade Agreement
  3. Stakeholder Dialogue on Copyright
  4. EU Data Protection
  5. Network Neutrality

Full Report