IAF supports calls from visual artists’ organisations for the introduction of Article 13b to the EU Copyright Directive. This addition to the Copyright Directive addresses the business model of internet search engines where online use of artists’ work has left them unremunerated. Internet search engines are important and useful but the current situation is that users can access huge amounts of artists’ works for uses, including copying and downloading, without credit to or other visibility for the artist. This can all take place without the explicit consent or awareness of the artist.
As Article 13 challenges the issue of a transfer of value problem for other content on platforms, Article 13b is important to ensure that these principles of rewarding creators are extended to their use on image search engines. The letter, signed by a variety of artist representatives including IAF member Pyramide, makes the case for Article 13b clear while also outlining how collective management schemes would be an effective way to manage remuneration for such far-reaching uses of works. The full letter can be found here.