Remuneration of authors and performers for the use of their works and the fixations of their performances : executive summary

Europe Economics and the Institute for Information Law at the University of Amsterdam were commissioned by DG Internal Market to undertake a study of the remuneration of authors and performers (or the "creators") for the use of their works and the fixations of their performances. The overarching objectives of this study are to analyse the current situation regarding the level of remuneration paid to authors and performers in the music and audio-visual (AV) sectors in order to compare the existing national systems of remuneration for authors and performers and identify the relative advantages and disadvantages of those systems for them. We also aim to assess the need to harmonise mechanisms affecting the remuneration of authors and performers, and to identify which ones are the best suited to achieve this. Their potential impact on distribution models and on the functioning of the Internal Market is also examined.