EU approved Link Tax and Upload Filter directive

Last week the European Parliament voted in favour of the controversial Copyright Directive, despite widespread criticism of the planned law.  The directive aims to bring copyright law into the internet age. It is frequently claimed that the bill is supported by Content Producers, although this support is largely from major music labels and newspaper publishing corporations. The smaller and independent publishers who make the majority of the web are likely to fair less well from the legislation when it comes into effect.

Following stern criticism from the most incredible list of internet luminaries, the directive was rejected by MEPs back in July.  Criticism centred around two particularly controversial parts: Article 11 (the “Link tax”) and Article 13 (the “upload filter”). We have previously discussed the impact of these elements on independent publishers. This month an amended version of the directive receive 438 votes in favour versus 226 against, but it still being widely criticised.

The directive will still face a final vote in January, but all indications are that it will pass at that point.