Déjà vu: link tax is on the table again

Ruth Coustick-Deal

Dear Sylvia, For over 8 months we’ve been following the EU Commission’s dangerous attempts to impose a new link tax on news content. But today we’re writing about a stunning new development we wanted to make sure you heard: The European Commission have launched a special process to push forward a new, bigger, broader, version of the hyperlinking fee. Your OpenMedia team has a plan to push back, but for it to work we need you to add your voice here right now. https://savethelink.org/eu?src=159444 EU decision-makers and lobbyists are calling it a neighbouring right, a snippet tax, or ancillary copyright. But we know what it is: a tax on linking. If they succeed the link tax could make some of your favourite content virtually disappear from search engines. Let’s stop this idea right here. We’ve seen this bad idea before, but as MEP Julia Reda put it, this is a “broader and badder version” of the previous push for a Link Tax.1 Anti-innovation politicians are also talking about a special YouTube tax2 and still others are pushing the idea of a user fee or a search fee!3 These terrible ideas will restrict freedom of expression and access to information, but they still want to push ahead. Sylvia: Will you speak up now so we can stop these bad ideas from becoming law? https://savethelink.org/eu?src=159444 What’s this all about? European decision-makers are in the process of writing a new copyright law and lobbyists are pushing for something called “ancillary copyright”. If the lobbyists succeed, copyright rules will be extended to links and the text that accompanies them — giving legacy publishers the right to charge fees for linking to content. If this sounds familiar it’s because late last year people like you in the OpenMedia community overwhelmed EU decision-makers4 by flooding their public consultation on the Link Tax proposal. The Internet community has said no,5 European Parliamentarians have said no,6 many publishers themselves have said no.7 Enough is enough already! If we act now we have a chance to put a stop to this idea before it gets out of control: Sign our statement to say NO to the link tax. https://savethelink.org/eu?src=159444 Stand with us, and Save the Link. Ruth, on behalf of your OpenMedia team   Please take the next step by using this survey tool to feed directly into the public record of the EU Commission’s online consultation. A fantastic network of European digital rights experts, including Edri, C4C, and Mozilla have all worked together to create this tool for you. When you’re done please tell everyone you know about this critical campaign now. SHARE  We’re happy to have you as part of the growing pro-Internet community. OpenMedia’s grassroots team will keep you updated on the state of the Internet across the world. Thank you! Ruth Coustick-Deal, on behalf of your OpenMedia team — Footnotes [1] The EU is listening – make your voice heard to prevent copyright from controlling public space and the way we share online. Source: Julia Reda [2] Commission considers ‘YouTube tax’ on streaming services. Source: Politico [3] Fight over ‘Google tax’ brews ahead of autumn copyright proposal. Source: Euractiv [4],[5] 10,000 Internet users demand to be heard. Your move, European Commission. Source: OpenMedia [6] No to ancillary copyright for press publishers, say more than 80 Members of the European Parliament. Source: Julia Reda [7] Ancillary copyright: group of press publishers write letter to the European Commission. Source: IFRRO *** ICH  BIN  LUISE

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