Alfred Sant tells european parliament Maltese artists and authors deserve protection

Maltese artists, authors, European creatives and our independent press need to be protected and fairly remunerated for the use of their work, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament when voting in favour of the report on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.
Dr Sant said the temptation of the consumerist approach is putting at risk the quality of the content available online.
“Caring about European writers and artists is both a guarantee and an incentive for quality-content, which will ultimately benefit the users,” remarked the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant said the tendency today is for Internet giants to capture the work of creators and use it in the framework of advertising activities. If nothing is done, there will be growing disincentives for creators to work.
“The proposed directive on copyright in the digital single market seems to offer a solution, as it is strengthening guarantees to authors. It guarantees economic transparency and despite controversies, the directive will not change the way content is shared on the internet. The legal foundations of copyright use remain the same. It will provide content-creators a safety net in case of abuses. Moreover, the directive provides exceptions to the use of works in non-commercial use such as heritage and educational institutions.” said the Maltese MEP.
After a first rejection in July, the text was voted again at the European Parliament and approved with 438 votes in favour, 226 against and 39 abstentions. This vote is considered a big step forward to adopt the necessary EU copyright reform in a digital context, while ensuring that Internet users enjoy their freedom of expression and that EU creators are protected – by notably being fairly remunerated for their work.

Maltese Version – NIPPROTEĠU L-ARTISTI U L-AWTURI MALTIN U GĦAWDXIN

L-artisti u l-awturi Maltin u Għawdxin, l-imħuħ kreattivi fl-Ewropa u l-media indipendenti għandhom jiġu protetti u mħallsa b’mod ġust għax-xogħol li jwettqu, qal Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew meta ivvota favur rapport dwar il-Copyright fis-Suq Diġitali Ewropew.
Dr Sant qal li l-ġibda lejn aġir konsumist qed tpoġġi f’riskju l-kwalita` tal-kontenut disponibbli ‘online’.
“Li nibżgħu għall-kittieba u l-artisti Ewropej hija garanzija u inċentiv għal kontenut ta’ kwalita`, li fl-aħħar mill-aħħar ikun ta’ benefiċċju għal dawk li jużaw is-servizzi ‘online’,” irrimarka l-Ewroparlamentari.
Dr Sant qal li t-tendenza llum hija li l-kumpaniji l-kbar tal-internet jaħtfu ħidmet ta’ min hu kreattiv u jużawh fil-qafas ta’ attivitajiet ta’ riklamar. Jekk ma jsir xejn, se jkun hemm diżinċentivi dejjem akbar għall-individwi li kapaċi joħolqu.
“Id-direttiva li qed tiġi proposta fuq il-‘copyright’ fis-suq diġitali Ewropew tidher li toffri soluzzjoni, għax issaħħaħ il-garanziji għall-awturi. Tiggarantixxi trasparenza ekonomika u minkejja l-kontroversji, id-direttiva mhux se tbiddel il-mod kif il-kontenut jiġi ixxerjat fuq l-internet. Il-bażi legali għal użu tal-‘copyright’ tibqa’ l-istess iżda se tipprovdi aktar sigurta` mill-abbużi. Barra minnhekk, id-direttiva tipprovdi eċċezzjonijiet f’każ ta’ użu ta’ xogħlijiet li mhumhiex kummerċjali bħal patrimonju kulturali u istituzzjonijiet edukattivi.” qal Alfred Sant.
Wara li ġiet irrifjutata f’Lulju, reġa’ ttieħed vot fil-Parlament Ewropew fuq id-direttiva tal-‘copyright’ li issa ġiet approvata b’438 voti favur, 226 voti kontra u 39 astensjoni. Dan il-vot qed jiġi kkonsidrat bħala pass kbir lejn ir-riforma meħtieġa tal-‘copyright’ f’kuntest diġitali. Id-direttiva tiżgura li min juża l-internet igawdi mil-liberta` tal-espressjoni u fl-istess ħin tipproteġi lill-individwi li joħolqu kontenut ġdid – biex ikunu mħallsa ġustament għax-xogħol li jkunu wettqu.