On the occasion of the European Commission’s "Hearing on Collective Management of Rights" held in Brussels on 13-14th November, EDiMA President Njara Zafimehy called for an overhaul of the current system of collective management of copyright works, with particular emphasis on greater openness and transparency in setting licensing terms and greater flexibility in reporting requirements. "EDiMA members are at the forefront of delivering on-line music and audiovisual works and yet the current system of collective management is preventing growth in European digital media, to the detriment of rights holders, consumers and distributors through significant procedural and economic barriers to the licensing of a critical mass of content.

EDiMA welcomes the public hearings by the Commission to review and comment on collective rights management and ways to harmonise the framework for the licensing and collection system.

In light of the current monopoly in licensing and collection, EDiMA has asked the Commission to consider the need for further transparency of license pricing, enhanced accountability of societies and ways to normalise consultation among EDiMA members and licensors.

EDiMA President Njara Zafimehy declares, " We remain willing and able to progress these matters in consultation with rights holders and collecting societies in a constructive dialogue. We would urge the industry to begin immediate examination of these issues. In the meantime we support the initiatives of the Commission to open an examination of the issues.

EDiMA’s mission is to contribute to the creation of a healthy business and legal environment in Europe that encourages new media companies to deploy innovative technologies that support public policies and industry practices for the purpose of marketing, promoting, selling and protecting digital copyrighted content.

Members of EDiMA include Callasong, Fnac.com, KataWeb, Liquid Audio, Music Choice Europe, Peoplesound.com, DMDSecure, RealNetworks, RidetheTiger, Vidius Technologies, and Vitaminic.

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