The Impact of Article 17 – A Study into its Effects on the Music Industry's Innovation Processes

The recent adoption of article 17 in the EU's new Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market has led to much debate. Proponents believe it will facilitate fair and balanced competition, while opponents fear increased censorship and surveillance on the Internet. Based on comprehensive document analysis, the paper explores the relationship between regulation and innovation. Through a study into article 17's implementation in Denmark, this paper investigates how article 17 will affect the innovation processes in the European music industry. The paper argues that although article 17 strengthens the rightsholders’ negotiation position, it does not decrease its dependence on the external IT Sector and its innovations.