Europe: the European Parliament comittee votes to end "unjust geoblocking" of audiovisual content

The European Parliament's committee on legal affairs, in the context of the satellite and cable directive, is voting in favor of lifting "unjust geoblocking" (restricting website access based on a users geographical location) for audiovisual content, news and current affairs programmes in Europe, according to the European Comission on 20/11/2017.

"This text preserves the principle of territoriality and allows openness to OTTs, thus recognising the value of territorial exclusivity, while ensuring that EU citizens can watch a wide range of high-quality television programmes in Europe," said French MEP Jean-Marie Cavada.

• The European Commission found in a survey in 2016 that 63% of the approximately 10,500 online sales sites surveyed prevent consumers from another EU Member State from accessing their services.
• Audiovisual remains excluded from the scope of the new regulation, as are products subject to copyright (music, video games).

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