EU policy regarding providing publishers of press publication with neighbouring rights

Abstract

In September 2016, the European Commission proposed a new draft Directive to provide publishers of press publications with neighbouring rights in order to achieve a fairer allocation of revenues accrued from the distribution of the copyright-protected contents between online platforms and publishers of press publications such as newspaper companies. This proposal is intended to improve the bargaining power of these press publishers in negotiations with online platforms. However, taking into consideration the fact that the online platforms are important portals for access to the websites of the press publishers, these publishers would face a "prisoners' dilemma", so that it is possible that the situation would not be significantly changed.