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Topics related to authors’ rights & new technologies

8 Demands for a sustainable future of Authors’ Right in the era of so-called AI: EWC response on the CALL FOR EVIDENCE

July 1, 2026

“Report on the review of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive / Targeted initiative for a better copyright environment for European creativity and innovation” This initiative by the Directorate General CNECT – Unit I.2 and under the lead of EP Vice-President Henna Virkkunen…

EWC Position Paper on the 5th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market (EU) 2019/790 on 7th June 2026

June 1, 2026

Dear Member States, dear European Commission: Thanks for nothing! The Directive (EU) 2019/790, once praised as a milestone for protecting authors and intended to close the value gap, is today suffering from massive misinterpretations. National implementations leave book authors with no means of enforcement and…

Council of Europe says “Yes to Authors’ Rights” and “No to the TDM exceptions for AI” – but when will the European Commission ever see reason?

May 29, 2026

While the 46-nation international organisation PACE, speaking on behalf of 700 million Europeans firmly upholds the values and rights of authors, the EU AI Office persists in its misguided stance on the TDM exception. The EWC calls on the Commission to listen to PACE’s arguments.…

WIPO’s 48th SCCR – increasing pressure on human authors

May 25, 2026

From 19th to 22nd May, at World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO’s 48th session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and related Rights (SCCR), the European Writers’ Council was represented by Secretary General Nicole Pfister Fetz on site in Geneva and remotely by Commissioner for Political Affairs Nina George. (more…)

The Digital Omnibus on AI is running over European values, rights and fairness

May 13, 2026

The importance of acting quick; but for who? The Digital Omnibus on AI is running over European values, rights and fairness Brussels, 12th May 2026 Our concern (more…)

Stakeholder Roundtable on “Copyright and AI: Navigating Challenges, Risks and Opportunities”

April 22, 2026

EWC-Statement on the occasion of the Stakeholder Roundtable on “Copyright and AI: Navigating Challenges, Risks and Opportunities” (more…)

© Macaulay Taylor | Society of Authors - Creative organisations gather outside the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology ahead of the announcement.

UK: YES to Copyright!

March 24, 2026

AI versus authors: UK says Yes to Copyright – to the dismay of big tech and their political allies. Important step for authors and artists The EWC congratulates its member, the Society of Authors (SoA), on successfully defending copyright against government attempts to undermine it!…

WIPO’s AIII Launch: EWC’s intervention and appeal to always respect the ART principle

March 17, 2026

EWC at the WIPO Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Interchange (AIII) Geneva, 17 March 2026 On the occasion of the launch of the AI Infrastructure Interchange (AIII, pronounced “A-triple-I”), and the presentation of the selected experts within the Technical Exchange Network (TEN), EWC took the floor to…

EWC Analysis of the adopted EP resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges”

March 13, 2026

Are 420 million euros as compensation for damages done by AI for all authors and artists in Europe enough? EWC analysis of the adopted resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges” (2025/2058(INI)) – Committee on Legal Affairs – Rapporteur: Axel Voss. (more…)

When ART rules: The EWC welcomes the adoption of the “Voss Report”, setting up clear protections for authors in the era of generative AI.

March 11, 2026

Statement/ press release On 10 March, the EU Parliament voted by 460 to 71, with 88 abstentions, to adopt the now famous “Voss Report”. The European Writers’ Council applauds this vote, which makes it clear that the EU stands for the protection of copyrighted creative…

“The Writer is first – but considered last”: EWC’s submission to the CULT’s Own Initiative Report on CCS in the Age of AI

March 2, 2026

“The Writer is first – but considered last”. Written submission by the EWC on the CULT Own Initiative Report (2025/2180(INI)): Six key aspects the authors of the Book Sector urge the Rapporteurs to be considered. (more…)

EWC signs Joint Letter by 14 authors’ and performers’ federations to the CULT Committee: Hold up the ART principle in the era of AI

March 2, 2026

Europe’s authors, performers, and other artists and cultural workers call for an ambitious report to safeguard the creative community in the age of AI Joint Letter to the European Parliament’s CULT Committee on the upcoming own initiative report “Cultural and creative sectors in the age…

EWC Vice President joined the International Conference of the Hellenic Authors’ Society “I write, I translate, I think in the age of Artificial Intelligence – What it means to be a writer today,”

March 2, 2026

The EWC joined the International Conference of our member, The Hellenic Authors’ Society “I write, I translate, I think in the age of Artificial Intelligence – What it means to be a writer today,” in Athens. Lecture | Keynote by Monika Pfundmeier, 2nd Vice President…

Joint Call by EWC & CEATL to stand in solidarity with human translators

November 24, 2025

Joint Statement by EWC and CEATL to call on the global book sector, including writers, agents, publishers and readers, to stand in solidarity with human literary translators. (more…)

EUIPO Conference on Copyright

November 23, 2025

Grażyna Plebanek, President of the European Writers’ Council, joined upon invitation the EUIPO Conference on Copyright, on 21st and 22nd November 2025 in Alicante (Spain), standing up for authors’ rights and copyright. Human writing needs to be protected. Without culture, we, people, won’t survive. Literature…

EWC @Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 – Panels & Events

October 14, 2025

Meet us! Discuss with us, get informed, get inspired! In several panels we exchange about the most burning topics for writers and literature – and also come together to connect. Our Panels & Networking Events Wednesday, 15th October 10:30-11:15 AI Licenses – top or flop?…

Supporting the Call: Keep Europe’s Culture strong

October 4, 2025

EWC supports the Call by Culture Action Europe What’s the call about? Together with Culture Action Europe 30 cultural networks and organisations are urging European leaders to: reverse the proposed budget cut to Creative Europe, the EU’s sole dedicated instrument for cultural funding. 2% of…

Update: Anthropic Copyright Class action

October 4, 2025

update on the Anthropic Copyright Class Action: The settlement website in the Bartz v Anthropic class action is now live and can be found in the link below. It includes comprehensive information about the case and settlement, including a searchable tool to see if your…

EWC stays cautious on the Anthropic settlement proposal for U.S. copyright claims

September 9, 2025

Brussels, 9th of September 2025 PDF: EWC Press Release Anthropic Settlement Press Release Cautious Welcome by EWC for the Anthropic Settlement proposal: The right signal, but no basis for future remuneration negotiations Anthropic, a Californian-based tech-giant who trained their AI large language model on pirated…

Joint Statement by EWC, EFJ and CEATL on the Own Initiative Report Copyright and AI by the JURI Committee and Rapporteur MEP Axel Voss.

September 1, 2025

Joint Statement by EWC, EFJ and CEATL on the Own Initiative Report Copyright and AI by the JURI Committee and Rapporteur MEP Axel Voss. On the occasion of the stakeholder roundtable to discuss Axel Voss’ own initiative report on AI & Copyright on September 1st…

“A betrayal of the EU AI Act’s objectives”: Joint Statement on the GPAI Code of Practice and the template by 40 organisations

July 30, 2025

Joint statement by a broad coalition of rightsholders active across the EU’s cultural and creative sectors regarding the AI Act implementation measures adopted by the European Commission Representing a broad coalition of European and global authors, performers, publishers, producers and other rightsholder organisations, we wish…

EWC’s Position | GPAI Code of Practice & the Template

July 26, 2025

The GPAI Code of Practice is an industry-over-friendly fig leave, and an invitation to a self-service buffet, serving (non-EU) AI companies. It could have been a (more…)

Feedback of the EWC on the DRAFT REPORT on Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges (2025/2058(INI))

July 14, 2025

The European Writers’ Council (EWC) expresses its sincere gratitude for the important and long-awaited strategy and recommendations outlined in the own-initiative draft report Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges (2025/2058(INI)). Brussels, 14th July 2025 : As the EWC is the world’s largest…

Code of Practice: EWC and European Human and Civil Rights Organisations urge Commissioner Virkkunen to bring back public transparency

July 4, 2025

A presentation from the EU Commission about the change to the EU General Purpose AI Code of Practice is raising massive concerns. The Changes implicate the deletion of public transparency provisions. About AI: We have the right to know what’s in the black box Authors…

Joint letter to the European Parlament: Protecting the rights of creators and artists vs generative AI

June 19, 2025

The letter is targeting MEPS in the JURI Committee ahead of the publication of their report “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges”. In addition, the letter is also a follow-up of the workshop the JURI Committee organised on 4 June, where EWC…

EWC at the Workshop Generative AI and Copyright upon invitation of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)

June 7, 2025

The Committee on Legal Affairs, with the support of the Policy Department for Justice, Civil Liberties and Institutional Affairs, organised a Workshop “Generative AI and copyright”. The event took place on 4 June 2025, from 9:00 to 10:45 at the European Parliament. EWC was invited…

EWC Resolution: The Threats by US AI Tech Oligopolies on culture, authors’ rights and freedom of Expression

June 3, 2025

53 European Writers’ and Translators’ associations condemn the continued threats by US AI Tech Oligopolies on culture, authors’ rights, and freedom of expression Oslo, EWC AGM, 25th May 2025 pdf: EWC Statement, AGM 2025 The 53 Member organisations of the European Writers’ Council (EWC), representing…

EWC contributed to the Call of Evidence for the Culture Compass

May 29, 2025

Law enforcement, data gaps, digital monopolies and an urgent call for authors at the table, not on the menue: The EWC sets its primary goals for the Commission’s Culture Compass The Political Guidelines for the European Commission 2024-2029 attach importance to culture as part of…

EWC Burning Issues Forum 2025 – Writers on the Storm

May 19, 2025

Where: National Library of Norway, the hall Målstova, Oslo (Norway) When: Saturday 24 May 2025, 13:00-17:15 The program of the forum was developed by the European Writers’ Council (EWC) together with the Norwegian hosts and Sponsor Kopinor, and will address issues of the present within…

Defending copyright is not a crime: EWC supports the Statement by the U.S. Authors Guild

May 18, 2025

Defending copyright is not a crime! EWC supports the Statement by the U.S. The Authors Guild on Trump‘s unlawful firing of U.S. Copyright Office‘s Director #WeStandWithShira (more…)

Open letter for transparency in AI developement and respecting creators’ rights – ahead of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council

May 7, 2025

Open letter to the attention of Ministers of Culture ahead of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 12-13 May 2025 Brussels, 6 May 2025 PDF: Open letter Dear Ministers, We are writing to you on behalf of a coalition of organisations representing the…

EWC raises concerns of the Code of Practice procedures: flawed and AI-industry favoring

April 30, 2025

Coded for privileged access How Big Tech weakens rules on advanced AI: The EU is developing a Code of Practice to govern general purpose AI, as part of the implementation of the AI Act. But Big Tech has heavily influenced the process to successfully weaken…

Protect Europe’s Creative Soul! EWC joins Open Letter to Commission

April 26, 2025

Artificial intelligence relies on our creative content to function at all. Without it, AI is blind, empty and speechless. Europe’s creative soul is being exploited. Let’s take action! Let’s get the EU to act! Protect Europe’s creative soul! (more…)

A CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY REGARDING AI GENERATED BOOKS – Joint Statement

April 23, 2025

Machine-made products that simulate creative works using generative AI should not benefit from authors’ rights legislations or generally be considered as cultural assets. The European Writers’ Council (EWC), the European Council of Literary Translators’ Association (CEATL) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) are calling…

WE ALL can‘t support THIS: EWC joins Open Letter by 40 European Cultural Organisations against the CoP

March 28, 2025

Joint statement by a coalition of authors, performers and other rightsholders active across the EU’s cultural and creative sectors regarding the third draft of the EU AI Act’s GPAI Code of Practice. The third draft of the GPAI Code of Practice undermines the objectives of…

Not fit for purpose: Writers, translators and journalists of the European text sector express strong opposition to the EU’s Code of Practice

March 21, 2025

Joint open letter by CEATL, EFJ and EWC to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen & the EU AI Board PDF of Joint Letter EWC CEATL EFJ (more…)

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