The Digital Single Market strategy aims to open up digital opportunities for people and business and enhance Europe's position as a world leader in the digital economy. In this framework, a new legislative package for the modernisation of the EU copyright rules is presented by the Commission in September 2016.

A Digital Single Market (DSM) is one in which the free movement of persons, services and capital is ensured and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.
The European Commission has identified the completion of the Digital Single Market (DSM) as one of its 10 political priorities.
Among its directives, a new directive on copyright in the digital single market. The purpose is to adapt EU copyright legislation to the digital environment, which is quickly changing the way copyright-protected works and content are created, produced, distributed and exploited in the European Union.

Press conference by Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), rapporteur, Andrus ANSIP, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Digital Single Market, Sajjad KARIM (ECR, UK) and Helga TRÜPEL (Greens/EFA, DE) on the copyright directive