If you’ve ever attempted to tune in to your on-demand film service while abroad somewhere in the European Union only to discover that your subscription doesn’t work because it’s been blocked, you’ll be happy to know that a new online copyright law currently being examined by the European Parliament could put an end to such troubles.
The European Parliament is working on new legislation that will grant European citizens access to cultural, recreational and sporting content everywhere within the European Union. This cross-border accessibility will depend on two things: 1) that your trip is of short duration, and 2) that you can verify that you have a paid subscription from your country of residence for the content you are trying to access during your trip. This will ensure that someone living in one EU member country can’t take advantage of cheaper subscriptions rates in another EU member country.
The law voted on three days ago in the European Parliament, however, does not override or challenge the existing copyright laws of each of the member countries. Film distribution rights, for example, will remain territory-specific.
It is estimated that the annual turnover for artistic activities across all 28 European Union countries is 536 billion Euros. In addition to securing copyright, the European Parliament has also ensured that the user’s IP address in their place of residency is impassable.
Over 50% of Europeans access Internet via mobile devices, smartphones, tablets or laptops.