EU Countries Copyright Reform: A Worry for Educators

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EU Countries Copyright Reform: A Worry for Educators

EU countries copyright reform announced newly will change the way citizens and educators share, communicate, learn and create knowledge, putting democratic dialogue at risk according to Education International.

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On 25 March the EU moved one step closer to finalizing the controversial EU copyright reform – a major concern for teachers, researchers and EU citizens more broadly according to Education International, the global union of teachers and educators.

He European Trade Union Committee for Education, EI’s European regional organisation, has voiced its concern on behalf of European education and research unions at different stages of said copyright reform.

It has welcome the move by the EU Commission to recognize the importance to widen “Opportunities to use copyrighted materials in education, research and cultural heritage” as well as to facilitate “More cross-border access to content online”.

The reform proposal includes a mandatory EU-wide copyright exception for teaching and learning purposes.

Despite this positive step, EI has warned of legal loopholes in the draft that could create barriers for the use of copyright protected works in schools and universities in the EU. Main points of criticism The copyright reform presents several problematic points for the access to quality education in Europe according to EI: 1.

Commercial contracts versus the defence of education as a human right EI is critical of the fact that the EU has not crafted a genuine copyright exception for education and research purposes.

In its policy documents adopted by Congress, EI asserts that education as a human right deserves a copyright exception that is protected from commercial exploitation.

Narrow definition of where education takes place in the current proposal limits the use of digital works to secure online environments.

The current proposal excludes educational activities run by museums and libraries which often close collaborate with education institutions and play an important supportive role in education and research.

Accordingly, while one country might only allow teachers to share a picture partially, in another country a teacher will have the right to share a picture in its entirety with the classroom.

The organisation has pointed out that the new directive will increase fragmentation and leave many teachers behind, creating barriers in the work with digital materials and tools.