March 2010– IVF and UVE express serious concern about possible future Catalan dubbing/subtitling obligations on video product

They urge the Catalan Government to work with the industries concerned to promote cultural and linguistic diversity while preserving the fragile economic fabric and sustainability of the Spanish film production and distribution community.

BVA Issues its 16th statistical digest on the home entertainment market. In addition to the usual detailed pages of market analysis on past years, the BVA 2009 Yearbook gives greater insight into consumers’ interest in high definition and Blu-ray, technology ownership, the growth of digital and portable delivery of content, plus reports on the impact of the credit crunch on the home entertainment industry and a special consumer insight section on the TV genre. The BVA Yearbook 2009 is available exclusively from the BVA – interested purchasers can order online:
BVA Yearbook 2009

September 2008 – Online Commerce Roundtable

In September 2008, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes met with senior consumer and industry representatives to discuss the opportunities and barriers to increased online retailing in Europe. The Commission services dealing with competition published an issues paper for the group and invited all interested parties to submit their own comments on this paper. The IVF has filed an individual submission in response to the issues paper. As a member of the CMBA, the IVF has also filed a joint submission together with other major companies and trade associations in the creative and media business sector. Please see:
Online Commerce Roundtable.pdf

July 2008 - Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Society

On July 16, 2008, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy and launched a public consultation. Copyright protection is a vector for growth and key to the success of new information society services and broadband take-up. Further growth, innovation, competitiveness and employment cannot be ensured without providing a continuing incentive to invest in the production and distribution of content.

The IVF has filed a submission in response to the public consultation – please see:
Green Paper

July 2008 - User Generated Content

In view of recent discussions concerning the development of Web 2.0, UGC (User Generated Content) and whether the current IPR systems have kept pace or not with the world of social-networking sites, wikis and mash-ups etc., the CMBA has released a reflection paper on some of these aspects that are of crucial interest to copyright-based industries. Please see:
CMBA UGC.pdf

July 2008 - Age Verification, Cross Media Rating and Social Networking

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on age verification, cross media rating and classification and online social networking. The purpose of the public consultation is to gather knowledge and views of all relevant stakeholders (including public bodies, child safety and consumer organisations, industry). The IVF has filed a joint submission with FIAPF, IFTA and the MPA in response to the public consultation – please see::
Age Verification, Cross Media Rating and Social Networking.pdf

June 2008 - IVF celebrates its 20th anniversary

The International Video Federation (IVF) celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special gathering in Rome where the challenges and opportunities of the video industry will be discussed in depth.
IVF_Press_Release_Rome

May 2008 - Review of existing legislation on reduced VAT rates

The European Commission has launched an online consultation to ascertain the views of the public and businesses on the review of the existing legislation on VAT reduced rates. The consultation is based on a document that sets out the current Community legal framework for VAT reduced rates and the context of the ongoing political debate. The IVF has filed a joint submission with FIAPF and the MPA in response to the public consultation – please see:
VAT_Submission

May 2008 - Private Copy Levy Review

The Commission has renewed its interest in private copy levies and launched a public consultation process and public hearing on May 27, 2008. The IVF has filed a response to the Commission's call for comments and was present at the hearing - please see:
Private Copy Levy Review April 08.htm

February 2008 - Creative Content Online

On January 3, 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on Creative Content Online and opened a public consultation on a number of key issues such as digital rights management, multi-territorial licensing and stakeholder cooperation in the fight against online piracy. The IVF and the CMBA filed submissions during the public consultation – please see:
IVF - Content Online 29 February 08.htm
CMBA - Content Online 29 February 08.pdf

July 2007 - Consumer Experience in the Digital Environment

The consumer experience lies at the heart of the content industries' business models, which is why it is so important that the European Institutions allow the promising new opportunities in electronic communication of content to develop, in the interest of the widest menu of cultural choices, for the benefit of both consumers and industry by:

- maintaining competitive markets, and
- protecting the legitimate expectations of all stakeholders,

without adding unnecessary layers of legislation and without handicapping the evolution of the market for digital content and media.

For a copy of the most recent CMBA and IVF paper on consumer experience and the creative media industries, please refer to:
CMBA Consumer Paper 2July07.pdf

June 2007 - IVF elects New President

The International Video Federation (IVF) announces the election of Paul Solleveld, Managing Director of NVPI (representing the Dutch entertainment industry), as President of the IVF.
IVF_President_2007

June 2007 - Comments on Study on "Recasting of Copyright" commissioned by the European Commission

The IVF and the CMBA have provided comments on the study on the "recasting of copyright and related rights for the knowledge economy" published earlier this year.

Our industry has a particular interest in this issue because the copyright and related right regime is the very cornerstone of our businesses. Copyright is the economic basis for the investment required to create new works since it provides the means for creators and investors to be rewarded for their efforts. Furthermore, proper implementation and enforcement of the copyright "acquis communautaire" is absolutely necessary to ensure a well functioning legal system.
For a copy of the comments by the IVF and the CMBA, please refer to:
Comments on study.pdf

October 2006 - Consultation on the Telecom Package

The European Commission launched a public consultation on the review of the “Telecom Package”, i.e. the set of rules governing electronic communications in Europe, on June 28, 2006. The Telecom Package review provides, among other, an opportunity to ensure appropriate enforcement conditions to deal with online piracy. The IVF and the CMBA filed a submission during the public consultation:
Telecom Package CMBA Submission_27oct06.pdf

July 2006 - Consultation on Content Online

The European Commission launched a public consultation on ways to stimulate the growth of a true EU single market for online digital content, such as films, music and games on July 28, 2006. For more information about the public consultation and copies of submissions from stakeholders, including the IVF and the CMBA, please refer to:
ec.europa.eu

May 2006 - The FIAPF Accredited Festivals Directory

The FIAPF-accredited Festivals Directory presents the 49 film festivals accredited by FIAPF and has been designed to assist producers and other right holders in the choice of the festivals at which they will present their films. For a copy of the FIAPF Accredited Festivals Directory, please visit:
www.fiapf.org/pdf/directoryFIAPFv3.pdf

March 2006 - Content for Competitiveness

On March 2-3, 2006, the Austrian Presidency, in cooperation with the Commission, organized a conference entitled “Content for Competitiveness – Strengthening the European Creative Industries in the Light of the i2010 Strategy”. The main purpose of the conference was to create awareness among stakeholders of the variety of economic, social and legal issues with an impact on the content and creative industries. The IVF and the CMBA submitted a paper to the Conference:
Content Competitiveness CMBA Mar06.pdf

September 2005 - Digital Libraries

The i2010 Programme is the Commission’s plan for fostering growth and jobs in the information society and media industries, including a strategy to modernize and deploy all EU policy instruments to encourage the development of the digital economy. The European Commission published a Communication on European digital libraries and opened a public consultation on consultation on September 30, 2005. The IVF filed a joint submission with FIAPF, please refer to:
digital_libraries

June 2005 - The EU's Lisbon Agenda

In March 2000, the European Council in Lisbon set out a ten-year strategy to make the EU the world's most dynamic and competitive economy. This strategy contains development and modernisation in the field of information society, education and training, research and innovation, economic reforms for a complete and fully operational internal market, financial markets, employment policy, social protection and inclusion as well as the coordination of the macro-economic policies. Under this strategy, a stronger economy will drive job creation alongside social and environmental policies that ensure sustainable development and social inclusion. For more information about the IVF’s and the CMBA’s position on the Lisbon Agenda, please refer to:
Lisbon_Agenda_CMBA_Jun05.pdf