Regulations are catching up to the rise of the digitized world. The European Union recently agreed with implementing copyright legislation that manages online content sharing, according to CNBC. For tech companies like Google and Facebook, this will mean that companies will have to acquire rights to media before using it. Companies disagree with these new laws especially since they will have to shoulder the responsibility if they use content without following proper procedures.

Opponents to this decision brought up the argument that information will become more restricted, thus giving way to censorship practices. They also fear that free speech and creativity will be affected by these changes. Media companies, writers, and artists, however, are accepting the reforms with open arms. They view this effort as a way to protect their content. This could also create a way in which lost profit is regained by creators due to restricting the sharing of their work. The disputes between both camps have been dubbed “Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley”.

The Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), the Society of Audiovisual Authors (FSE), and the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (SAA) provided a press release that praises the approval of the copyright rules. FERA Chief Executive Pauline Durand-Vialle said, “We warmly thank MEPs who supported the trilogue compromise text. This is an essential first step towards more sustainable authors’ remuneration in the EU. Film and TV directors’ organisations across Europe stand ready to take advantage of this historic opportunity in favour of fairer copyright terms”.