(8 February 2017, Brussels) Negotiations between the EU institutions conclude with agreement that enables consumers to keep access to online content services from home when they travel in the EU.
Europeans will soon be able to fully use their online subscriptions to films, sports events, e-books, video games or music services when travelling within the EU, according to an agreement reached by negotiators from the European Parliament, Member States and the European Commission.
This is the first step in the modernisation of EU copyright rules proposed by the Commission in its Digital Single Market strategy.
The future regulation will enable consumers to access their online content services when they travel in the EU the same way they access them at home. The new rules will become applicable in all EU Member States by the beginning of 2018, giving the providers nine months to prepare for the application of the new rules.
The Commission is making sure that the law keeps up with consumer habits; in 2016, 64% of Europeans used the internet to play or download games, images, films or music, increasingly through mobile devices. In a survey carried out in 2015, one in three Europeans wanted cross-border portability of the services they buy. For young people, this possibility is even more important. Half of those aged 15-39 thought that portability and accessing the service they subscribe to when travelling in Europe is important.
Related Links
- Press release – Digital Single Market: EU negotiators agree on new rules allowing Europeans to travel and enjoy online content services across border
- Fact sheet
- Q&A
- Webpage on the modernisation of EU copyright rules
