This was one of the biggest political battles of 2018: reforming EU copyright laws to protect online newspaper publishers, journalists, and other creators from exploitation on digital platforms. The “Big Tech” companies spent a lot of money to convince people that passing the directive would break the internet. Our challenge was to convince MEPs that their vote for the Copyright Directive would protect free press and the rights of journalists on digital platforms. We had to debunk the myths campaigned by Big Tech giants and help the European Parliament introduce a Publisher’s Right. For that, we introduced #SaveYourPress campaign; posted arresting images and myth-busting videos linking people to EmpowerDemocracy.eu, a site debunking the lies spread by Big Tech.
We teamed up with EU SuperGirl, musician Madeleina Kay, who wrote our anthem, “Stand Up for Your (Copy) Rights.”
Through paid advertising, our hashtag became the most dominant voice on Politico, the most influential news source among MEPs. #SaveYourPress received 400,000 impressions in 28 days. EU SuperGirl tweeted 32 times, receiving 2.3 million impressions. Our ads in Politico had 815,000 impressions along with 212,000 page views. On 12 September, the votes came in: 438 in favour of the Publisher’s Right, 226 against. Publisher’s Right was passed, and MEPs gave the directive a standing ovation.
This was one of the biggest political battles of 2018: reforming EU copyright laws to protect online newspaper publishers, journalists, and other creators from exploitation on digital platforms. The “Big Tech” companies spent a lot of money to convince people that passing the directive would break the internet. Our challenge was to convince MEPs that their vote for the Copyright Directive would protect free press and the rights of journalists on digital platforms. We had to debunk the myths campaigned by Big Tech giants and help the European Parliament introduce a Publisher’s Right. For that, we introduced #SaveYourPress campaign; posted arresting images and myth-busting videos linking people to EmpowerDemocracy.eu, a site debunking the lies spread by Big Tech.
We teamed up with EU SuperGirl, musician Madeleina Kay, who wrote our anthem, “Stand Up for Your (Copy) Rights.”
Through paid advertising, our hashtag became the most dominant voice on Politico, the most influential news source among MEPs. #SaveYourPress received 400,000 impressions in 28 days. EU SuperGirl tweeted 32 times, receiving 2.3 million impressions. Our ads in Politico had 815,000 impressions along with 212,000 page views. On 12 September, the votes came in: 438 in favour of the Publisher’s Right, 226 against. Publisher’s Right was passed, and MEPs gave the directive a standing ovation.