The first proposal is designed to enable Europeans to travel with their online content and includes an action plan to modernise EU copyright ruling.
It proposes “Regulation on the cross-border portability of online content services”, and will allow EU residents to access content from their home country while travelling within the region. EU copyright framework will also be addressed over the next six months.
“People who legally buy content – films, books, football matches or TV series – must be able to carry it with them anywhere they go in Europe. This is a real change, similar to what we did to end roaming charges,” said Andrus Ansip, VP for the Digital Single Market.
“Today, we also set out our vision for a modern copyright regime in the EU, and the gradual steps to achieve it. Our aim is to widen people's access to cultural content online and support creators. We want to strengthen European R&D, using technologies like text and data mining.”
The second proposal is centered around Ecommerce and focussed on both the supply of digital content – such as music streaming – as well as the online sale of goods.
This proposal is expected to tackle the main obstacles to cross-border e-commerce which include legal fragmentation and low consumer trust between countries.
“When you download a movie or a song, it must play. If this is not the case, you should be able to end the contract and get your money back. Today's proposals will give more rights to consumers on-line - allow them to enjoy products and services from other EU countries in full confidence,” Ansip said.
“Businesses, especially the smallest ones, can grow across borders at less cost, with a common set of EU rules instead of a patchwork of national laws. Now the Digital Single Market is under way, improving the daily life of people, where digital is everywhere.”
Europe has been working towards its strategy for a Digital Single Market with a target of 2020 for its full implementation.
“The Digital Single Market is the blueprint for Europe claiming its place in the digital era, today we start making it a reality,” Ansip said.