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The MMF welcomes the speech given by Neelie Kroes, European Digital Agenda Commissioner, in Avignon at the weekend where in a speech about copyright, she argued:

For a moment, let’s take a step back from the tools, and remember what we are trying to achieve. Legally, we want a well-understood and enforceable framework. Morally, we want dignity, recognition and a stimulating environment for creators. Economically, we want financial reward so that artists can benefit from their hard work and be incentivised to create more.

Together with the Featured Artist Coalition, the MMF has long argued that the situation where rights holders can use control of copyright to stop innovative developments is no way forward. We need a faster, simpler, easier licensing regime for copyright on a European wide basis so that creators everywhere in the EU can increase the size and value of the market.  We agree that “rigid legislation from the pre-digital era” needs immediate adaptation. Arguing whether a music stream contains elements of pre-digital terminology is irrelevant – it should be defined by currently existing parameters.

We need to adapt tax law, kill off release windows that encourage piracy, accept technological innovation and recognise that consumers will pay for what they value.

Brian Message, Chairman of the MMF, commented:”Neelie Kroes summed up our views succinctly and with passion. Her final sentence says it all:

‘Let’s not wait for a financial crisis in the creative sector to happen to finally adopt the right tools to tackle it.’

We applaud her and wholeheartedly share her vision.”

Read the speech here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/777&