Copyright acquis
The review of the copyright acquis is a European Commission launched
programme that
intends to simplify, and where necessary remove, unnecessary European legislation. Details of
this programme can be found in the Commission’s publication entitled "Implementing
the Community Lisbon Program: A strategy for simplification of the regulatory environmen 
t".
This programme includes a "recasting" of the Copyright acquis (the body of European Union
law in the field of copyright). "Recasting" is defined as simultaneously amending and codifying
the legal acts in question.
The Commission has had two studies conducted on its behalf, the first
on the recasting of the copyright acquis and the second
on the implementation of Directive 2001/29/EC on Copyright in the Information Society. Both studies
have been published.
The Commission’s activities relating to the copyright acquis will
be included in the Commission's annual work plans, and we will have a better idea of the precise scope
of the review then. The Commission’s 2006 Work Programme, entitled "Unlocking Europe's
Full Potential " included reform of copyright levies as applied to equipment and media used
for private copying. As a result of strong political resistance the Commission conceded
in December 2006 that
"more reflection is required on this complex issue". The Commission has therefore decided
not to publish the Recommendation and will bring the issue back onto its work agenda "when it is
ready".
In addition to this, the Commission has also indicated that the following areas will be looked at in 2007:
- Review of term, in particular, term for sound recordings
- Review of co-written and musical works
