Piracy: Are you about to be forced to pay to listen to music on YouTube?

[Len]

A host of major industry bodies have banded together to plead with the EU for tougher rules on pirated content available on sites like YouTube and Facebook

LISTENING to music for free on websites like YouTube might be banned one day, if creative industry giants get their way.

A host of major bodies that represent the film, TV, music and sport industries have written to the EU to ask for a crackdown on sites where users upload their own content – like Facebook and YouTube.

The industry bodies are complaining about the "Value Gap".

That's the term they used to describe a mismatch between the money that the creative industry makes, compared to the money that websites like YouTube generates through the content they host.

"User uploaded content services have become vast distributors of our creative works...all while refusing to negotiate fair or any copyright licences with us as rights holders," reads an open letter to the EU, which was signed by 23 different industry bodies.

The letter appeals directly to Boyko Borisov, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, the country that currently holds EU Council presidency.

"We have formed an alliance to campaign for a solution to a major problem which is holding back our sector and jeopardising future sustainability," the letter continues.

"Bulgaria's EU Presidency provides the unmissable opportunity for a solution."

The alliance also blasts the EU's "safe harbour" protections, which protects big companies from being targeted if they "unknowingly" host copyrighted content.

This is important for websites like YouTube, which can avoid liability for providing pirated content to users because anyone can upload videos or music to the platform.

The letter explains that "a lack of clarity surrounding the application of copyright to certain online services, and the abuse of European copyright 'safe harbour' rules" is causing major problems for the creative industries.

It could mean that consumers are eventually forced to pay for premium content – like music or videos – on YouTube, to avoid any piracy issues.

Speaking to The Sun, GBH Insights' Daniel Ives said: "This, will continue to put more pressure on the likes of Google and YouTube given copyright and IP issues."

He said that Brits probably won't be forced to pay for music on YouTube "in the near-term", but added: "We do believe – especially in Europe – there is growing concern around this area, which is putting more heat in the kitchen for the company."

Groups that wrote to the EU in this latest plea include the International Council of Music Authors, the Association of Commercial Television, and Writers & Directors Worldwide.

To help ease the woes of these creative giants, YouTube already provides a mechanism for content creators to report any stolen videos or music.

"If your copyright-protected work was posted on YouTube without authorisation, you may submit a copyright infringement notification," YouTube explains.

"Make sure that you consider whether fair use, fair dealing or a similar exception to copyright applies before you submit.

"These requests should only be sent in by the copyright owner or an agent authorised to act on the owner's behalf."