The platforms still do not accept the Copyright Directive: they are calling the new White House for help, believing that the EU states must be prevented from imposing on them an increased responsibility towards protected works, notably through compulsory collective management. The European Commission, which is currently preparing its guidelines on Article 17 of the directive, may well meet a large part of their demands before any intervention by the White House. Katerine Tai has not yet been confirmed as US Trade Representative (USTR) by the US Senate, but she already has her work cut out. She should, in all likelihood, give priority to the issue of trade relations between the United States and China, but some, particularly among the major American platforms, will also want her to look into the regulation of digital technology in Europe. The first salvo from major American platforms targets a text that has already been adopted: the EU Copyright Directive. On January 28th, the CCIA, the platforms’ representative in Washington, sent a list of negative comments on the Copyright Directive to the Office of the Trade Representative,…
