Dutch MP proposes new 'super authority' to monitor collecting societies

Today Dutch Liberal Democrat (D66) MP Kees Verhoeven presents a plan to place music copyright organization Buma/Stemra under supervision of the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM).

Verhoeven prepared the plan because of complaints about the functioning of Buma/Stemra and other collecting societies. According to Verhoeven, the copyright organization’s current supervisor does not have the appropriate resources to form an opinion on the organization’s rates. Buma/Stemra is currently monitored by five board members who meet six times a year.

Currently, the Dutch government is working on the formation of the new Consumer and Market Authority, a so-called 'super authority'. The ACM shall be formed by a merger of the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa), the Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority of the Netherlands (OPTA) and the Netherlands Consumer Authority. According to Verhoeven, it is precisely this mix of regulators that is suitable to monitor collecting societies like Buma/Stemra. For example, the OPTA has experience in identifying and controlling prices in a market where competition could be jeopardized.

Nevertheless, the politician says stricter supervision is not a solution to all problems that exist in relation to Buma/Stemra. According to Verhoeven, copyright law in the Netherlands needs to be adjusted. State Secretary Fred Teeven is already working on such adjustments, but it is all moving slower than necessary, says Verhoeven.

Time will determine whether Verhoeven will find support for his plan to place copyright organization Buma/Stemra under ACM’s supervision.

Read more about Buma/Stemra on FutureofCopyright.com:

• Parliamentary questions raised about dominant position Buma/Stemra
• Dutch radio station removes podcasts due to conflict with Buma/Stemra
• Employees of Spanish collecting society SGAE face fraud charges

References: Volkskrant, Tweaker.

By: Karen Groen