The EU Copyright Directive will now move forward to the implementation stage after the majority of Members of the European Parliament voted to approve the bill in a plenary vote today. YouTube will soon be required to secure licenses from rights holders.
Once ratified by the EU28 in the Council of the EU in coming weeks, it becomes law when published in the EU Official Journal. This triggers a 24-month deadline for governments to transpose it nationally.
It means that user-upload platforms like YouTube will now be required to secure a license from rights holders, or ensure that no unauthorised content is available on the platform. The Directive includes a “stay down” provision requiring platforms to keep unlicensed content down.
Music trade bodies welcomed the news.