Fair MusE hosts Policy Workshop on the role of regulation in the European digital music ecosystem

On the 11th of December of 2024, Fair MusE will host its Work Package 2 (‘Assessing the role of regulation’) Policy Workshop. This high-level event will bring together leading voices in policy, law, and the music industry to examine how EU regulations impact the rights and the remuneration of music creators in today’s digital landscape. The workshop will take place at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (45 A Avenida de Berna, Lisbon) from 9:00 to 15:30 (WET), with an option for online attendance.

As the music industry becomes increasingly digital, creators face new complexities related to streaming platforms, social media, and the protection of cultural diversity. Fair MusE researchers will showcase findings from its ongoing studies, shedding light on how algorithmic and data-driven exploitation challenges the legal treatment of artists and the management of their rights. The workshop’s agenda is built around three dynamic panels, each tackling essential aspects of fairness in the EU’s evolving music policy landscape.

The first panel, What does ‘fairness’ mean in EU Law and Policy and in Copyright Law?, will explore the meaning of fairness within EU law and copyright policy. After a presentation by the WP2 researchers Professor Antonios Vlassis (University of Liege) and Professor Giuseppe Mazziotti (Católica Global School of Law), a discussion moderated by Professor Tito Rendas from Católica Global School of Law will delve into how EU legislation, particularly the implications of the 2019 EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (Directive 2019/790) and its attempt to properly restore the protection of music creators’ rights and interests . Invited discussants, including Professor Giulia Priora of NOVA School of Law and Nicole Schulze from the Independent Music Publishers International Forum, will add their insights on the effectiveness of current copyright protections for creators.

The second session, Social Media Copyright Liability and Regulation of Collective Rights Management under EU Law: Their Effects on the European Music Industry, will address the consequences of the reform of social media platforms’ copyright liability and the regulation of collective rights management. This panel will start with a presentation by Jasmin Leuendorf and Professor Giuseppe Mazziotti (both from Católica Global School of Law) which will question how Article 17 of the Digital Single Market Directive and the national implementations of EU Directive 2014/26 have influenced music licensing practices and the remuneration of composers and performers . Esteemed participants like Isabel Urzáiz of Sony Music, David Serras Pereira from Unison Rights, Rodolphe Wouters  from European Commission’s Copyright Unit, and Larry Mills from Pex, a leading company in content identification and rights management (which uses AI to track and manage in real-time copyrighted audio and video across platforms) will contribute to a discussion on whether current copyright rules support a fairer licensing market.

Finally, the third panel, Competition Law and Platform Regulation as Instruments to Enhance Fairness in the Digital Music Sector, will investigate the role of competition law and platform regulation in fostering fairness in the music industry. After a presentation by the WP2 researchers Professor Marta Cantero Gamito (University of Tartu) and Professor Maria José Schmidt-Kessen (Central European University), the discussion will examine how EU competition regulations affect smaller creators and whether increased data transparency could enhance fairness in the digital music economy. Moderated by Fair MusE’s own Professor Giuseppe Mazziotti, it will benefit from contributions from Professor Giovanni De Gregorio from Católica Global School of Law, Nuno Rodrigues from the Portuguese Competition Authority, and Bill Patry from Quinn Emanuel Trial Lawyers.

This workshop is aimed at professionals, scholars, music industry practitioners and enthusiasts who engage with regulatory and industry frameworks within the EU. With perspectives from policy and industry leaders, the event promises an in-depth look at the structural challenges impacting creators in today’s digital music landscape.

To participate, interested attendees can register here.

*Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA