The European Commission has proposed new rules giving copyright holders the exclusive rights to their works in cyberspace, according to a December 24 Reuters report.
The proposal gives governments the option to grant exemptions for libraries or similar public institutions. But the exemption would apply only to copying, and the institutions would have to obtain licenses from copyright holders to make online material available to the public.
The legislation, already drawing fire from forces on both sides of the issue who say it does too much or too little, must be approved by the European Parliament and the 15 European Union governments before final adoption.
Posted January 5, 1998.