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Polish PM Tusk calls for dialogue amidst copyright law protests

06.07.2024 15:15
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has extended an invitation to media representatives amidst mounting protests against recently enacted amendments to the country's copyright law.
Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaking at a press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting on May 15, 2024.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaking at a press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting on May 15, 2024.Photo: Gov.pl, CC BY 3.0 PL , via Wikimedia Commons

In a social media post on Saturday, Tusk, along with Senate Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, urged organizers of the ongoing media protests to attend discussions at the Dialog centre in the capital Warsaw on Wednesday.

"Authorities should not buy the favor of the media, media should not engage in ambiguous dealings with authorities, and big tech companies should not exploit authors and publishers," Tusk stated, addressing concerns over the contentious legislation that has drawn criticism from over 350 newspapers and online portals.

The amendments, passed by the Sejm lower house last week, incorporate European Union directives into Polish law.

Key provisions include a notable increase in the permissible use of copyrighted materials for educational or research purposes, from 3 percent to 25 percent.

Additionally, the amendments aim to ensure fair remuneration for creators of derivative works by changing certain definitions.

However, publishers argue that the new regulations fail to address their demands for mediation tools in disputes with tech giants involving royalties, compensation for online content exposure and protection against unauthorized copying.

While the Left has pledged to introduce amendments in the Senate to protect journalists' interests, Jerzy Fedorowicz, head of the Senate Culture Committee, has indicated that the legislation is likely to pass without significant changes.

The controversy surrounding the law underscores deep-seated concerns regarding the influence of global tech giants on Poland's media ecosystem and the imperative of safeguarding journalistic integrity.

(ał)

Source: PAP

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