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At Patreon, we imagine in defending the mental property rights of all creators, and defending creators’ capacity to make use of inventive works in new and artistic methods. Creators who assist us perceive what’s happening on the earth via newsletters, podcasts, and long-form investigative journalism deserve a degree taking part in discipline to compete with conventional shops. However with new restrictions in some international locations, that would change into tougher.
Germany, Spain, and Australia have just lately instituted new laws taxing search engines like google and different on-line platforms for publishing quick items of stories (quotations, headlines, and many others.) with hyperlinks to the unique supply. Late final yr, the U.S. Copyright Workplace started exploring this new kind of regulation as effectively, asking for enter into how it might affect customers.
One downside: the U.S. Copyright Workplace’s inquiry is so broad that it may affect any and all producers of content material — together with many Patreon creators. These guidelines may affect lots of the issues creators make and do with their communities, together with:
- Publishing hyperlinks to information tales and summaries mentioned in podcast present notes;
- Internet hosting neighborhood discussions that contain sharing hyperlinks or commenting on main information;
- Producing roundup newsletters with hyperlinks and commentary; or
- Launching reporting websites that present an area perspective on nationwide or worldwide information by linking to tales from main publications.
Because of this, we’ve submitted feedback to the Copyright Workplace about how a brand new rule would possibly affect creators on Patreon and comparable platforms that assist creators receives a commission.
In our full submission, we raised considerations like:
- How making hyperlinks copyrightable may disincentivize folks from linking in any respect.
- How the Copyright Workplace’s proposed guidelines may additional consolidate market energy, harming smaller creators, platforms, unbiased journalists, and many others.
- How creators truly profit from platforms competing over the creation, distribution, and monetization of artistic works.
Whereas the Copyright Workplace’s proposal is clearly well-intentioned, it poses potential unintended penalties which, if applied, would hurt the artistic neighborhood. At Patreon, we’ll at all times try to advocate on behalf of creators and their wants. That’s why we spoke up on behalf of creators, and it’s why we’ll proceed to take action. As at all times, be happy to achieve out to [email protected] with ideas, concepts, or questions.
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