Europeans call for a single copyright.

• Position: COPYRIGHT

The European Commission (EC) received an earful when it asked for public comment on the EU copyright rules earlier this year. It seems many European consumers want a single EU copyright. They are frustrated with being denied cross-border access to online content, especially when attempting to view or listen to content from their home country when they are in another EU country. In other words, they want a single market in which they can access all content from any online stores whether directed to the member state in which they reside or not. Those that called for a common copyright believe that it would do away with territorial restrictions and allow users to freely access, purchase, and transfer content across the entire EU market.

Libraries expressed sentiments similar to those of consumers. University libraries especially pointed to problems students face in...