Press Release Copyright and Europe’s Cultural Future Open letter to MEPs in support of the Copyright Directive

13th March 2019

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

We, music creators, are fundamentally open to the changes of the world. We defend freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the freedom to innovate more passionately than anyone. Sharing new ideas and connecting with people is our raison d’être. But our livelihoods and the cultural livelihoods of future generations of creators is at risk.

Our human right, to benefit from “the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which [we are] the author”, is being disingenuously conflated into a pitched battle for the soul of “freedom”. This is a false prospectus. Copyright is not about censorship or monopoly, it’s simply about consent, integrity and respect for others work. With incentives, technology can deliver both fairness and liberty.

We want nothing more than a reasonable partnership with the companies that distribute our work, but a reasonable partnership should be based on accountability and shared responsibilities, not unilateral takings. We believe the Copyright Directive before you now will help build an online future that encourages commercial innovation, whilst allowing creative innovation to flourish by sharing more fairly in the value it generates.

We are immensely grateful to every MEP who has supported this directive against unprecedented odds. Thank you for understanding that Copyright is not ‘Hollywood’s’ or ‘Silicon Valley’s’ right to fight over, it is every individual’s right to trade in their creativity. A right that should be upheld online as well as off.

We see the internet as the only force that might unify and bind the globe, but it has somehow failed to deliver on its once beautiful promise of opportunity for all. We hope democracy will now help it keep that promise.

Please vote for the Directive in full. The future of European Culture is in your hands. Please don’t drop it.

Yours,

Crispin Hunt Chair of BASCA

About BASCA

BASCA is the voice for music writers; the independent professional association representing music writers in all genres, from songwriting, through to media, contemporary classical and jazz and can trace our history back over 70 years. Whilst we are well known for putting on the British Composer Awards, the Gold Badge Awards and The Ivors every year, there is far more to us than these events. BASCA campaigns in the UK, Europe and throughout the world in order to protect the professional interests of our members. We count on the best songwriting and composing talent in order to do this important work and are entirely self-funding, relying on the continuing support of our members, who include Paul McCartney, Dizzee Rascal, Michael Nyman, Gary Barlow, David Arnold, Elton John, Imogen Heap, Howard Goodall, John Powell, Kate Bush, Chris Martin, and many more.

For more information on BASCA, please visit basca.org.uk