Wyden Urges EU Not to Undermine Fair Use With ‘Link Tax’

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged the European Union not to undermine an open internet and fair use by targeting U.S. companies that link to news articles, in a statement today.

“Reports that the European Commission is considering creating a new ‘link tax’ targeting links to news articles raise serious concerns,” Wyden said. “Restricting the ability to link to news – or charging for it – is incompatible with a free and open internet and principles of fair use of copyrighted material and free speech in the United States.  The proposal raises questions about whether the Commission may attempt to use the Digital Single Market initiative to advance measures similar to those put forward in the ACTA negotiations.”

Wyden has long advocated for a balance on copyright, both in the U.S. and abroad. Last year, he introduced the Breaking Down Barriers to Innovation Act that would reform outdated copyright laws in the U.S. to better protect security research, journalism and freedom of expression.

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