European Parliament (2023). Buyout Contracts Imposed by Platforms in the Cultural and Creative Sector. Study Requested by the JURI Committee. Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, Directorate-General for Internal Policies.
This study analyses the growing use of buyout contracts in the cultural and creative sectors, where platforms require creators to surrender all rights for a lump-sum payment, undermining fair remuneration and moral rights. It evaluates the legal framework established by the 2019 EU Digital Single Market Directive and its implementation across Member States, highlighting persistent gaps that allow exploitative practices. The report warns that such contracts threaten cultural diversity, economic stability for artists, and European creative sovereignty. It proposes EU-level measures, including stronger enforcement of proportional remuneration, collective bargaining, revising international private law rules, and introducing a European legal status for creators to secure equitable working conditions.