Protecting freedom of panorama

Afzal Khan MEP

North West MEP, Afzal Khan CBE, together with other Labour MEPs, successfully lobbied the European Parliament to drop a clause restricting freedom of panorama in a vote passed today (9 July) on copyright law.

The proposed Reda Report called to restrict publishing pictures of public buildings and artworks stating that they 'should always be subject to prior authorisation from the authors or any proxy acting for them'.

The restriction would have greatly complicated business for those who rely on the free and unlicensed use of public images such as journalists, professional photographers or documentary film-makers.

Pleased that the clause had been rejected, Afzal Khan stated: "A number of EU countries, including Britain, enjoy freedom of panorama as a basic public right. A restriction on this would be deeply anachronistic and out of line with our sense of what is reasonably permissable.

"It would have also affected people of a variety of professions, including journalists, on whom the people rely for public information and insights'

"I am delighted that today in Parliament Labour MEPs have successfully removed this threat to our freedom. It is testimony to their commitment to public rights and liberties."