Article 13, otherwise known as the ‘Meme Ban,’ has officially passed in European Parliament following a vote on March 26th.
Parliament approved the article, which has since been renamed ‘Article 17.’
The EU has passed a law some people are calling a “meme ban”.
Article 13 of the directive makes bigger tech companies responsible for things people post without copyright.
But some people say a “parody” clause means memes won’t be affected.https://t.co/LC6Q3OP3sn— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) March 26, 2019
Article 11 will have a direct affect on copyright regulation on the internet, and it’s set to spell trouble for content creators as we say goodbye to the open internet as we know it.
The incredibly controversial Meme Ban will see the need for licenses to be acquired by anyone who wants to use any copyrighted material online, whether that be a video, a GIF or a meme.
Thanks to article 13 we can all say goodbye to @pewdiepie meme review pic.twitter.com/QrO69AvM2C
— morgan fallon (@morgan_fallon) March 26, 2019
For one content creator in particular, it seems the passing of Article 17 means drastic action is needed – and he’s even suggested he wants to leave the EU.
Twitch streamer Sebastian ‘Forsen’ Fors, recently discussed the prospect of moving to America during a stream.
He told one viewer: “It’s not easy getting a work visa in the [United] States, so I might have to pull some favors and that will kind of decide where I live.”
Forsen currently has over one million subscribers over on his Twitch channel.
Check out the video below [via Dexerto].
Content creators including the likes of PewDiePie have been incredibly vocal in their stance against the controversial Article 17, but it looks like it’s going full steam ahead.
What do you think of the news? Is this really going to be the end of memes in the EU?
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay