Today, the European Commission has launched its public consultation on the role of publishers in the copyright value chain and on the 'panorama exception'. Everybody is welcomed to take the online survey. Although it is only available in English, French and German you can reply in any EU language.
The survey contains 16 questions on the role of publishers. Primarily, the Commission wants to know if a neighbouring right for publishers would have a positive or negative impact on publishers itself as well as on authors, researchers, online service providers and end-users. Interestingly, the questionnaire distinguishes between a neighbouring right covering publishers in all sectors and one limited to press publishers. Question No. 15 addresses everyone living in a Member State that already has passed an ancillary copyright for publishers asking what impact this right has had on the person questioned. It surely would be interesting to hear which box German press publishers check here...
The consultation period will run until 15th June 2016. Initially, the copyright reform was announced to come in September 2016. It can be doubted that Commissioner Günther Oettinger will meet this deadline; the analysis will certainly take some time and the final draft should consider all opinions submitted.
The Commission is asking for it, so go tell them what you think of an ancillary copyright for (press) publishers!