Plans to overhaul copyright legislation in the European Union could be derailed due to divisions between EU member states.
The European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission had planned to meet on January 21 to agree on a draft law. The meeting was cancelled.
“We take note that the Council needs more time to finalise its position,” Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a press conference, referring to the body that represents member states.
As reported by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, proposed reforms in September 2016 designed to modernise copyright for the digital age.
But it has sparked a battle between media and creators seeking payment for online content against lobbyists defending the business model of the Silicon Valley giants backed by internet freedom activists.
Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and several other EU countries last week blocked a council compromise text following a long debate among the bloc’s 28 ambassadors.
The stumbling block was over a provision that calls for YouTube and other platforms to better remunerate content creators and force them to remove any pirated content.
In a separate report, the Reuters news agency noted that timing to get an agreement is tight because of European Parliament elections in May.
