European Charter on Film Online

The European Charter for the Development and the Take-up of Film Online was initiated in May 2005 by Commissioner Viviane Reding and agreed by business leaders on 23 May 2006 at the Europe Day of the 59th Cannes Film Festival. These business leaders were Jean-Charles De Keyser, COO of BelgacomTV and Executive Chairman of the board of Skynet; Véronique Cayla, Director-General, CNC; Paolo Agostinelli - Head of Media and TV Department of Fastweb S.p.A.; Olivier Sichel, Executive Vice-President of Home Communication Services, France Telecom Group; Nicolas Seydoux, President, Gaumont; Pascal Rogard, Director-General, SACD; Riccardo Perissich, Chairman, Telecom Italia Media; Frank E. Dangeard, Chairman and CEO, Thomson; Jeffrey L. Bewkes, President and COO, Time Warner; John Woodward, CEO, UK Film Council; Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Vivendi; Peter Aalbæk Jensen, CEO and Executive Producer, Zentropa Productions ; David Thompson, Head of Films, BBC.

The Charter represents the joint accomplishment of representatives of the three groups of key players: film and content industry, internet service providers and telecom operators. The European Commission acted as honest broker during the Film Online Talks which led to the adoption of the Charter.

The objective of the European Film Online Charter - which is the first such Charter in the world - is to encourage the development and take-up of Film Online in Europe. The parties endorsing the European Film Online Charter believe that Film Online services, due to their economic and cultural potential, offer a tremendous opportunity for a wider circulation of European films, can create a more vibrant and competitive film sector and will become a powerful driver for broadband in Europe.

The parties endorsing the European Film Online Charter identify four key elements which are urgently needed for Film Online to take off:

• a wide online offer of attractive films,

• consumer-friendly online services,

• adequate protection of copyrighted works

• close cooperation to fight piracy.

The Charter identifies commendable practices for bringing Film content online via legitimate services and in a consumer-friendly way.

The European Film Online Charter will be the point of reference for business practices of the film and content industry, of internet service providers and of telecom operators.