CW! has taken note of today’s verdict from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the GS Media v Sanoma Media case (C-160/15). The verdict sends a strong message to profit seeking sites that linking to copyrighted material without rightholders’ consent is illegal. This also applies to hyperlinkers who knew or should have known that the content was unauthorized.

We are proceeding to a careful analysis of the verdict but are encouraged by the legal clarifications the verdict offers for users and creators. Europe’s creative industries are actively involved in curbing online piracy and firmly believe copyright protection is essential to sustain Europe’s creative community and economy. It enables our industries to create new content while offering the best possible experience to audiences and users, including by continuously increasing and diversifying our legal offer. Taking action against illegal sites is not about preventing access to creative content but to protect consumers and stop pirates who do not contribute to Europe’s cultural diversity while making a business out of exploiting content that’s not theirs.