MPA Europe Chief Stan McCoy Talks Hollywood’s  Concerns as New EU Parliament Takes Charge

As an avid movie-lover with over three decades of immersion in the dynamic world of Hollywood and European cinema, I find myself closely following the recent developments in the European Union, particularly the aftermath of the elections that saw far-right parties gain significant ground. The voice of Stan McCoy, the Motion Picture Association’s chief for Europe, echoes a sense of urgency and pragmatism as he navigates the complexities of the EU policy landscape, ensuring the industry’s interests are safeguarded.


In light of the recent European Union elections in June where far-right parties experienced notable growth, Hollywood has been taking steps to prevent the incoming EU administration from enacting laws that could potentially harm studios and streaming services.

Currently, EU policies remain flexible and open to change, as pointed out by Stan McCoy, the head of the Motion Picture Association for Europe, during his address at the Venice Film Festival.

“He mentioned that you’ve got a fresh parliament now, and they’re currently going through their procedures. The sector often faces the challenge of enlightening Brussels on the reasons behind its operations.” (Informal: “He said the new parliament’s going through stuff right now, and the industry often needs to explain Brussels why it runs the way it does.”)

McCoy expanded on several key issues the MPA is preparing to lobby for in Brussels.

Manage risk by negotiating diverse production arrangements

“In certain circles within the EU industry, there’s a push for regulations that require producers to keep intellectual property (IP). However, McCoy argues against this universal rule, stating it could hinder deal-making. Instead, they advocate for flexibility in IP negotiations between production partners, allowing them to strike deals that align with their risk tolerance. They emphasize the importance of preserving a balanced relationship between risk and reward when making deals.”

Support exclusive territorial licensing

“McCoy stated that for quite some time, the entire audiovisual system within the EU has consistently conveyed: ‘We acknowledge and support the concept of the single market.’ However, the ‘single market’ should not result in losing the ability to sell rights on a territory-by-territory basis. This change would significantly disrupt the industry’s business model. Consequently, McCoy suggests that the EU should maintain exclusive territorial licensing. This issue seems crucial moving forward, as McCoy indicates there are now numerous proponents of the single market in Brussels.”

Enable competitive offerings adapted to consumer needs and preferences

European consumer activists are proposing new rules that aim to prevent abuse of streaming services by subscribers, as stated by McCoy. “It’s not about allowing fraud, but rather creating a system where people can’t take advantage of a streaming service by signing up, watching everything they want for two weeks, then canceling and getting a refund under the guise of ‘I didn’t like it,'” explained McCoy. “Our goal is to establish fair consumer protection regulations.”

Protect content creation and support legal services

This is simply an extension of the MPA’s persistent fight against piracy. As you might expect, we’re discussing matters related to copyright protection and upholding these rights, which are core aspects of our work.

Maintain a stable and predictable copyright system

The MPA suggested that the EU should keep the consistency of its recently amended copyright law, which incorporates the use of artificial intelligence. However, it’s more probable that the regulations concerning AI usage will undergo revisions.

No to network fees

Telecom companies worldwide have long advocated for a charge that content providers must pay for utilizing their networks. They argue that these companies use their infrastructure to disseminate their products. However, as McCoy pointed out, it’s more accurate to say that the telecoms themselves are using the content to market and sell their own services.

Maintain an inclusive definition of European works

As a movie critic, I find myself deeply concerned about the ongoing debate regarding the definition of “European works.” The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is advocating to preserve the current EU definition that includes U.K. productions, but there are whispers suggesting U.K. films might no longer be considered European.

Enforce principles of country of origin, proportionality and non-discrimination

As a passionate movie enthusiast and follower of EU regulations, I’m here to discuss an essential aspect affecting our beloved streamers – the AVMS Directive. This directive mandates financial contributions from streaming platforms, which are calculated as a percentage of their overall earnings or turnover. The specific percentage can vary across Europe. Here’s my take: We’re advocating for countries that opt to enforce these rules to ensure the obligation percentage isn’t burdensome. Essentially, we aim to prevent member states from imposing financially demanding contributions on our streaming friends.

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2024-09-02 08:18