The Digital Era
Preserving an old equilibrium in a new world
At first sight, one might be tempted to look at the Internet as a threat to authors and their rights. The music industry was shocked when mp3 technology and peer-to-peer services enabled worldwide use of copyrighted musical works for free. Furthermore, not only music is involved, since creative works of all kinds can be distributed over the Internet.
More and more, however, creators and their representatives remember what was clear from the beginning: the Web also offers unprecedented opportunities to the world of creation. Never before have authors had the possibility to make their works known by so many people, wherever they are.
CISAC supports a positive approach to the advent of the information age. The Confederation is giving new impetus to its two-fold mission: to protect the work of creators and to stimulate their distribution.
"It is in the author’s interest that his works should be as widely distributed as possible; and it is through the protection of intellectual creation at source that the development and spread of culture can be most effectively fostered." (Charter of the Authors’ Right, art. 3)
CISAC’s efforts are directed at preserving a trusted equilibrium in a new world: making available as many creative works to as many people as possible, while creating the online surroundings which guarantee the proper protection of the rights of authors.