The European Commission has threatened to bring 23 EU countries to court for being late in incorporating important EU copyright rules into their national laws. The EC also called on the countries to explain the delay.
The Czech Republic is one of these countries. The directive on copyright rules in the digital single market aims to ensure a level playing field between the EU’s trillion-euro creative industry and internet platforms such as Google and Facebook, the Reuters agency reported.
The directive was adopted two years ago. Recently, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to the member countries, which is the first step in the infringement procedure, asking them to provide explanations. The deadline for adopting the rules expired on June 7. In addition to the Czech Republic, the letter was sent to France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
Countries now have two months to respond. If they do not submit their answers, they will receive a warning, referred to as a reasoned opinion. The next step would be to refer the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
The EC also asked these 21 countries, excluding Denmark and Sweden, to explain why they had not met the deadline for introducing the directive on TV and radio programs on the internet into their national legislation. This deadline also expired on June 7.
Title image: European Union flags flap in the wind as they hang at half mast, to pay respect to victims of the recent floods in Europe, outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Belgium is holding a day of mourning on Tuesday to show respect to the victims of the devastating flooding last week, when massive rains turned streets in eastern Europe into deadly torrents of water, mud, and flotsam. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
