Big tech try to claw back artist rights in Belgium!

At the beginning of February (2023) Google, Meta, Spotify, Streamz and Sony Music went to the Constitutional Court to challenge certain aspects of the new Belgian copyright law.

Amongst others they want to strike the newly made amendments to the law on the basis of which artists will share in online (streaming) income via article XI.228/4 in the Code of Economic Law.

Obviously, collecting societies like Sacd and PlayRight are seriously concerned about the impact of a possible annulment. Belgian PRO Sabam has now requested the Constitutional Court to create clarity and legal certainty about the legal framework of online rights for creatives.

Very curious to see how this pans out. Stay tuned!