Dear FIBEP Members,
Although we're not quite halfway through the calendar year, we are halfway to Cyprus. I wanted to share a progress report before some of our members begin their summer holidays.
I’m very pleased and grateful for all the valuable work we've completed so far in 2024. Magdalena Horanska, our Secretary General, has been invaluable to FIBEP, ensuring that all activities are governed professionally and properly. With the expanded support from Zuzana Richterova and Viktoria Kiss, our office and member resources are in excellent shape.
Our Communications team, led by FIBEP VP Oresti Patricios, has been keeping everyone well-informed through monthly emails. We're excited to announce that the all-new FIBEP website will launch in the next few months, offering more resources to our members and making information easier to find.
Our Copyright Day and Tech Day were extremely well attended, setting records for participation, especially with virtual attendees. This speaks volumes about the value FIBEP provides through these single-day meetings and how well they are organized to maximize benefits for you, our members. A huge thank you goes out to Christophe Dickes and Carlos Diaz for expertly programming these events.
Speaking of members, Steffen Egelund, supported by our incredible team of Viktoria and Zuzana, is on track to set a record for new member recruitment. Whether or not we break that record is secondary to the quality of the new members Steffen is attracting to FIBEP. His efforts, combined with member referrals, are bringing in exciting media monitoring organizations and technical members, enhancing the diversity of ideas within our organization.
With the support of our members, we've made substantial progress on the Copyright and Regulation Commission. The additional €200 each member company contributed this year has enabled us to establish a separate fund to support legal counsel, attend critical events, and engage new partners we couldn’t reach before.
Already this year, FIBEP has published a global media release on the impact of exclusive licensing. Additionally, in response to the European Commission’s request for input on GDPR, Sarah Hamou submitted comments on behalf of FIBEP, representing the interests of Media Monitoring Organizations (MMOs).
Last week, I met with Christophe Dickes, VP in charge of the Copyright Commission, to discuss our progress and next steps. Here’s a summary of where we stand:
1. Position Paper Collaboration
Christophe and his volunteer team are finalizing a position paper in cooperation with AMEC (International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication) and PDLN (Press Database and Licensing Network). This collaboration is crucial in finding solutions that work for most parties. The paper will address two primary concerns in our industry: Artificial Intelligence and Paywalls. We expect the final draft to be approved by all three boards by the end of June.
2. Copyright Charter Review and Revision
I asked Christophe to undertake a review and revision of FIBEP’s first Copyright Charter. Originally created in 2002, it was well-defined for that era, but much has changed since then. This review will yield:
An entirely new and updated charter that maintains the influence and voice of the original.Expanded terms to provide global direction and opinions usable by all FIBEP members.
New sections covering evolving topics like artificial intelligence, large language models, fairness in licensing models, and exclusive licenses. A thorough legal review before presenting it to the board and recommending it to members.
Completion and final review of the new charter is expected by the end of July 2024.
3. Next Steps
Once this work is complete, our next goal is to expand our network of partners and participants with interests in these issues. Lasting solutions that serve multiple regions can only be found by involving more stakeholders, including content users, consumers, and owners. Christophe and I will continue this process throughout the rest of the year.
All pertinent information and outcomes will be available in a newly created online data room for FIBEP members. We want to ensure our work provides real and lasting benefits for our members.
Thank you all for your continued support and interest in FIBEP. Without you, this organization wouldn't be what it is today. Be sure to register for WMIC 2024 and book your flights. Cyprus will be the best investment you'll make for your company this year.
Sincerely,
Todd Murphy
FIBEP President
(Truescope President)
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