The association is chaired by the director Alain Corneau: “Private copy is an essential element in the remuneration of creators and the financing of our country’s cultural life, since 25% of the sums collected are reserved for initiatives of general interest, contributing to many structures (training centres, festivals, auditoriums, orchestras, etc) and enabling artists to make themselves known or bring their projects to fruition... Suppression of the levy, or its reduction would be truly catastrophic for creators, professionals and the public.”
The members of the “Culture with private copy” Board are: ADAMI, ADAGP, ARP, PROCIREP, SACD, SACEM, SAIF, SCAM, SOFIA, SPEDIDAM, SPPF, UNAF.
Setting up the “ Culture with private copy” is all the more important because attacks against private copy in Europe are intensifying. Moreover, even in France, the engagement letter addressed by the Prime Minister to Eric Besson, Secretary of State in charge of development of the digital economy, seems to challenge the continuity of private copy and the levies associated with it. Thus, the members of “Culture with private copy” this apparent step backward, as unfair as it is unfounded, of the transparency and objectivity of the decisions made by the Private Copy Commission chaired by a member of the Revenue Court appointed by the State. Its activities are described in an annual public report addressed to Parliament. Each of these decisions can be appealed before the Conseil d’État.
“Culture with private copy” hopes the Government will provide - as soon as possible - not only the assurance but also a guarantee that development of the digital economy will not take place against creators, against consumers, or even against cultural diversity.
Any other decision would lead ipso facto to a total and dangerous break with the commitments always made by France to maintain private copy and defend an ambitious cultural model.
For the purpose of informing both professionals and the public and raise awareness, “Culture with private copy” is developing many tools:
1.- an Internet site: copieprivee.org
2.- an education video by Joris Clerté and Anne Jaffrennou, available online on the sites of signatory organizations, and screened in festivals (Francofolies, Avignon Festival, Lussas, Short film festival of Clermont-Ferrand, Cinéma du Réel...) and in film theatres.
3.- the “label copie privée”, a label to be displayed on all communication documents for cultural events benefiting the resources of private copy to help the general public understand that private copy levies represent an essential tool for financing our country’s cultural life, something to which everyone contributes.
4.- com cards distributed at cultural events explaining the mechanism of private copy.
