EU Proposes Digital Media Plan

The European Commission wants to create a unified European online market for music, films and games. Goal is to streamline the patchwork of regulations across member nations, to make multi-territory copyright licenses easier, and to combat illegal downloads it says are discouraging content providers from  offering their products on the internet.  The effort will begin with non-binding policy recommendations by mid-2008, Reuters reports.

Some analysts say the non-binding measures—a code of conduct for internet providers, rights holders and consumers, as opposed to real legislation—might be too slow to address obstacles: "It means you are not going to see any really meaningful changes for consumers for at least a couple of years," predicts one. (More European Commission stories.)