Is Article 13 good for copyright holders?

Asked by: Terence Daniel IV  |  Last update: April 11, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (48 votes)

Article 13 (now Article 17 of the EU Copyright Directive) aimed to be good for copyright holders by making platforms liable for user uploads, forcing licensing or filtering, and increasing revenue, but its impact is debated: while it could benefit major rights holders (like music labels) by forcing platforms to pay for content, it risks censoring users (memes, fair use) through upload filters and doesn't fully solve complex licensing, potentially hurting smaller creators and promoting over-blocking.

What is the Article 13 directive on copyright?

The Directive on Copyright and its most controversial component, Article 13, requires online platforms to filter or remove copyrighted material from their websites. It's this article that people think could be interpreted as requiring platforms to ban memes, but more on that later.

What is article 13?

​Article 13 (1) states that all the laws which are made before the Constitution will be void as long as they are violating the provisions of the Fundamental Rights.

What happened to article 13?

Article 13 no longer exists — in its current form as Article 17, it's much less contentious and makes exceptions for users to post content like memes, parodies, criticisms, and reviews. But technology is adapting rapidly, and Europe has already passed other regulations that impact the digital space.

Are copyright laws good?

Copyright registration also provides value to the public overall. It facilitates the licensing marketplace by allowing people to find copyright ownership information, and it provides the public with notice that someone is claiming copyright protection. It also provides a record of this nation's creativity.

What Does Article 13 Mean for EU Copyright

21 related questions found

How long is copyright law good for?

As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.

What are the 5 rights of copyright?

The five fundamental rights of copyright give owners exclusive control to reproduce the work, create derivative works (adaptations), distribute copies, perform it publicly, and display it publicly, forming the core "bundle of rights" under U.S. law, allowing creators to control their creative output. These rights ensure only the owner can authorize making copies, adapting the work (like turning a book into a movie), selling or lending it, performing it (music, plays), or showing it (art, photos). 

Why is article 13 important?

Article 13

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

How does article 13 affect users?

Article 13 says content-sharing services must license copyright-protected material from the rights holders. If that is not possible and material is posted on the service, the company may be held liable unless it can demonstrate: it made "best efforts" to get permission from the copyright holder.

How can I avoid copyright issues?

Copyright: Avoid Copyright Infringement

Use only your original work in your project. Get written permission to reproduce another's work. Use content licensed with Creative Commons agreements. The Search identifies content that you can use.

What is article 13 of the Human Rights Act?

Article 13 secures the granting of an effective remedy before a national authority to everyone whose Convention rights and freedoms have been violated.

What is article XIII about?

Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Congress is mandated to give highest priority to the enactment of measures that reduce social, economic and political inequalities and cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power.

What is Article 13 3 in simple words?

(3)In this article, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a)"law" includes any Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law; (b)"laws in force" includes laws passed or made by Legislature or other competent authority in the territory of ...

What is Section 13 of the Copyright Act?

What is Section 13 of the Copyright Act? Section 13 lists the types of creations that can get copyright protection. It says copyright exists across India for original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, as well as cinematograph films and sound recordings, as long as the Act's other rules are followed.

How do I get permission from a copyright owner?

There are several standard steps in the process of acquiring permissions:

  1. Determine if permission is needed.
  2. Identify the copyright holder.
  3. Request permission in writing.
  4. If permission is granted, acknowledge this appropriately.
  5. If permission cannot be obtained, be prepared to modify your plans.

Can I use 2 seconds of a copyrighted song?

No, there's no magic number of seconds (like two) that lets you use a copyrighted song without permission; it's still infringement, though shorter clips are less likely to be detected by automated systems like YouTube's Content ID system, but the copyright holder can still claim it. Legal protection depends on "fair use," a complex defense argued in court, not a simple rule, and using even a few notes or seconds can lead to copyright strikes if the owner files a claim, especially for commercial use. 

What is the issue of Article 13?

Article 13 (Draft Article 8) was debated in the Constituent Assembly on the 25, 26 and 29 November 1948. It declared that any existing law at the commencement of the Constitution that is inconsistent with Part III would be void.

What is the difference between author and owner?

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988) defines the author of a work as the person who created it. The author as creator is not always the owner of a work, although it is usually the case that they are the first owner of copyright unless employed, in which case the employer is (see below).

Can you use a song after 20 years?

Yes, you can use a song after 20 years, but it depends on whether its copyright has expired; most modern songs remain protected for life of the author plus 70 years, but older songs (pre-1978) might be entering the public domain, allowing free use, though you still need a license for specific recordings or new performances. After 20 years, you'll likely still need permission (a license) to use popular songs, but some older, obscure works might become free to use (public domain). 

What countries have implemented Article 13?

As of December 2021, only 5 out of 27 member states have implemented respective laws, those being Germany, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, and Austria. The deadline for the implementation having lapsed on 7 June 2021, the Commission has started legal action against the remaining countries.

What does article 13 of the Declaration of the rights of Man mean?

13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.

How does article 13 affect free speech?

The right to freedom of expression includes artistic, cultural, social, religious and political expressions, as well as any other type of expression. Every person has the right to seek, receive and impart information and opinions freely under terms set forth in Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights.

What rights do copyright holders have?

The right of reproduction grants the copyright owner the right to exclude others from reproducing (for example, photocopying) the copyright protected work, while the right to prepare derivative works gives the copyright owner the right to exclude others from creating works based on the protected work.

What are the top 5 ways to break copyright?

The top 5 ways people break copyright law are: using found images, copying website text, using music without a licence, selling products with copyrighted designs, and downloading unlicensed digital assets.

What are the 4 pillars of copyright?

The four pillars of intellectual property law consist of copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets.