A group of leading publishers on the Polish market appealed to members of parliament. “We appeal for the draft implementation of the directive to include provisions that will enable Polish publishers to continue operating in Poland and compete on equal terms with technology giants,” write the publishers' representatives.
Digital publishers associated in the Association of Employers of Digital Publishers sent a letter to MPs on Wednesday regarding the act implementing the EU directive on copyright and related rights.
“The current project is unfavorable for the Polish media. It worsens their situation and may ultimately lead to the collapse of many media companies. It may also force them to operate in a model in which access to reliable content will be paid only, which will constitute a threat to fundamental democratic values, to media pluralism, and will open space for disinformation and manipulation. For the good of Poland and democracy, we cannot allow this,” the publishers write.
Appeal to the Sejm and Senate
“We appeal to the Sejm and Senate to include in the draft implementation of the directive provisions that will enable Polish publishers to continue operating in Poland and compete on equal terms with technology giants. We expect the implementation of solutions already used by other European Union countries. These include, among others, provisions related to the mechanism arbitration and providing us with fair remuneration for the journalistic content we create and publish, which is now used free of charge by global technology companies in their activities,” emphasize the publishers' representatives.
They draw attention to the establishment of mechanisms “that will ensure that the law is implemented and that creators and publishers receive appropriate remuneration for the use of their content.”
The letter was signed by: the president of the Association of Employers of Digital Publishers, Maciej Kossowski, Jacek Świderski (Wirtualna Polska), Aleksander Kutela (CEO RASP), Artur Potocki CEO of Interia, CEO of Agora Bartosz Hojka and CEO of ZPR Group, Katarzyna Białek.
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