Stock-industry umbrella group Coordination of European Picture Agencies Press Stock Heritage has become a member of the Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace, an group of organizations and businesses dedicated to promoting sustainable growth of the Internet consistent with the rule of law. CEPIC says the move furthers its campaign for protection of intellectual property online.
ICOMP members include more than 40 companies, trade associations, consumer organizations and individuals in 14 countries across Europe, North America and the Middle East. Sponsored by Microsoft, the initiative asks members to endorse principals that encourage online competition, transparency, data privacy and respect for intellectual property rights through the adoption of best practices to promote creativity, innovation, safety and trust.
CEPIC president Alan Smith said that the image industry’s heavy dependence on e-commerce puts a sharp focus on intellectual property. “Defending intellectual property rights online has never been more important,” he said. ICOM Chairman Lord Alan Watson said CEPIC will play a role in the organization’s growing campaign to build an Internet that fully respects the intellectual property rights of artists and creators.
ICOMP director Auke Haagsma will attend the CEPIC congress in Dresden and participate in a June 5 seminar on “Creative Industries: Getting our message across anti-copyright waters.”