Finland

[FI] Proposed New Copyright Provisions on IPTV

IRIS 2015-3:1/10

Anette Alén-Savikko

University of Helsinki

A new Government bill (HE 181/2014 vp) proposes amendments to the Finnish Copyright Act (Tekijänoikeuslaki 404/1961). One of these amendments concerns new provisions on extended collective licences for network personal video recorder (PVR) services provided by third parties, such as IPTV companies. Early in 2014, a solution for copyright-proof recording services was introduced, which was based on negotiations between core actors in the field, including leading broadcasters, teleoperators and collective management societies representing authors, performers, musicians, and producers. Later the same year, the new Government bill was introduced to the Parliament.

The proposed new Section 25 l (1) states that the provider of a network recording service may make a copy of a programme and work included in a television transmission by virtue of an extended collective licence, as provided for in Section 26. This copy may be used for making available to the public in such a way as to enable the programme and work to be viewed and listened to by customers of the recording service provider from a place and at a time chosen by them. Paragraph 1 does not apply to a work whose author has assigned to the broadcasting company the right to make a copy and the right of communication to the public (§ 25 l (2)).

According to the Government bill, recording of programming is to be based on contracting with both the broadcasters and the organisation(s) representing right-holders. Broadcasters grant permissions regarding their own and acquired rights, as well as negotiate on the practical execution. The organisations representing right-holders grant permissions with regard to rights that have not been transferred to broadcasters. By force of law, the effects would be extended to right-holders not represented by the organisation(s). The organisation(s) should, however, have a wide coverage with regard to right-holders (including foreign) and explicit coverage with regard to the rights concerned. References to related rights are also proposed, not including the protection of transmission signals in Section 48. Broadcasters’ authorisation is thus required.

In principle, all programming is included in the provision, but contracting may mean the exclusion of some programmes. The starting point in the negotiations would be streaming for private purposes by customers, although solutions enabling offline viewing could also be agreed upon. The solution based on extended collective licencing combined with direct contracting was deemed appropriate, especially due to the mass scale nature of the activity and the large number of right-holders, as well as challenges related to obtaining all authorisations beforehand.

At the same time, amendments are proposed to Section 26 concerning extended collective licences. A new sentence would be added to paragraph 1, which clarifies the legal basis of the extension effects of collective licences. Provisions on extended collective licences apply when the use of a work has been agreed upon between the user and the organisation approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture, which represents, in a given field, numerous authors of works used in Finland. Such an organisation would be considered representative also of authors of other works in the same field with regard to the contract in question. All works in a given field could be used as prescribed by the licence. Clarifications and updates are also proposed to the language used in the Section.

Other amendments concern explicit provisions on the fairness of contract terms when copyright is assigned by the original author, as well as enforcement measures (e.g., preventive injunctions imposed on teleoperators). New titles are also proposed for each Section of the Copyright Act.