Completely missed this story when it happened.
From the Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ital-plan.html
From the Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ital-plan.html
Quote:
“TV and music firms rage at EU digital plan

By Christopher Williams
7:00PM GMT 28 Mar 2015
European Union rules to implement a single market in digital media would allow anyone in the continent to buy online services from another country
Britain's creative industries are under threat from EU plans to impose a digital single market that will put an end to the way they sell films, television or music in individual European countries.
Rights holders and distributors typically charge different rates for downloads and streaming services depending on demand in each nation. They vary the timing of releases to maximise their returns.
But now Brussels officials are to introduce rules that will mean all European citizens will be able to buy online services from any country.
At present providers block foreign internet addresses, which, as well as complying with the current copyright system, means they are able to tailor their services and pricing for different national markets.
In a speech last week, however, Ardrus Ansip, the European Commissioner in charge of digital single market plans, said he would seek to outlaw such “geo-blocking”.
The Estonian now faces a growing backlash from the British media industry, which has also been angered by the UK Government’s support for the plan.
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Alice Enders, an economist at Enders Analysis, said: “This is empire building. It’s a long-standing ambition of the European Commission to take control of copyright, but there is just no real evidence of cross-border demand. Who is this for? It’s a disaster.
“Britain has a very mature and well developed media market where companies can make a good return compared with most other European countries.”
It is understood that the BBC is also monitoring the development of the digital single market proposals with concern. It blocks overseas viewers from accessing the iPlayer partly to make sure it can commercially exploit its programmes abroad and partly to avoid protests from licence fee payers who might resent paying to entertain other nations.
Mr Ansip and his supporters argue that insisting services are available everywhere in the EU will lead to more choice for consumers and better opportunities for new digital media business to grow quickly.
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, irritated senior figures in the creative sector earlier this year by claiming that the EU’s plans would boost the UK and eurozone economies by more than £260bn a year. While the Government is willing to battle Brussels for Britain’s banking sector, it seemed to “sell us down the river”, said one music industry chief.
This weekend a government spokesman appeared to back away from stopping media companies from approaching different countries with tailored offers.
He said: “People who pay to use digital services should be able to use them wherever they travel in the EU – so someone with UK subscription to a video streaming service shouldn’t be blocked from using it when on holiday in Spain.
“But this does not mean that people outside the UK should be able to access the iPlayer or other on-demand services for free.”
“TV and music firms rage at EU digital plan

By Christopher Williams
7:00PM GMT 28 Mar 2015
European Union rules to implement a single market in digital media would allow anyone in the continent to buy online services from another country
Britain's creative industries are under threat from EU plans to impose a digital single market that will put an end to the way they sell films, television or music in individual European countries.
Rights holders and distributors typically charge different rates for downloads and streaming services depending on demand in each nation. They vary the timing of releases to maximise their returns.
But now Brussels officials are to introduce rules that will mean all European citizens will be able to buy online services from any country.
At present providers block foreign internet addresses, which, as well as complying with the current copyright system, means they are able to tailor their services and pricing for different national markets.
In a speech last week, however, Ardrus Ansip, the European Commissioner in charge of digital single market plans, said he would seek to outlaw such “geo-blocking”.
The Estonian now faces a growing backlash from the British media industry, which has also been angered by the UK Government’s support for the plan.
ADVERTISEMENT

Alice Enders, an economist at Enders Analysis, said: “This is empire building. It’s a long-standing ambition of the European Commission to take control of copyright, but there is just no real evidence of cross-border demand. Who is this for? It’s a disaster.
“Britain has a very mature and well developed media market where companies can make a good return compared with most other European countries.”
It is understood that the BBC is also monitoring the development of the digital single market proposals with concern. It blocks overseas viewers from accessing the iPlayer partly to make sure it can commercially exploit its programmes abroad and partly to avoid protests from licence fee payers who might resent paying to entertain other nations.
Mr Ansip and his supporters argue that insisting services are available everywhere in the EU will lead to more choice for consumers and better opportunities for new digital media business to grow quickly.
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, irritated senior figures in the creative sector earlier this year by claiming that the EU’s plans would boost the UK and eurozone economies by more than £260bn a year. While the Government is willing to battle Brussels for Britain’s banking sector, it seemed to “sell us down the river”, said one music industry chief.
This weekend a government spokesman appeared to back away from stopping media companies from approaching different countries with tailored offers.
He said: “People who pay to use digital services should be able to use them wherever they travel in the EU – so someone with UK subscription to a video streaming service shouldn’t be blocked from using it when on holiday in Spain.
“But this does not mean that people outside the UK should be able to access the iPlayer or other on-demand services for free.”
