A right that works

Belgium before the Court of Justice

In Streamz, C-663/24, the CJEU is examining Belgian rules on press publishers and creators’ remuneration from platforms and streaming services. The hearing was announced for 6 and 7 July 2026. On 7 September, the Belgian Constitutional Court’s register still indicated that no CJEU judgment had been delivered.

Enforcement also addresses unlawful use. FPS Economy’s Anti-Piracy report of 5 June 2025 recorded 147 websites blocked during the service’s first year, with monitoring of mirror sites. This dated report illustrates an approach already operating in Belgium.

Describe the use precisely

For each mode of exploitation, the agreement should identify the rights granted, their scope, duration and remuneration. Special employment and commissioning rules require attention. Permission for a printed publication does not, by itself, describe every possible digital use.

Turn that into practical questions: which work, on which medium, in which territory and for how long? Adaptations, translations, extracts and sublicences each deserve an answer. Also agree on the information needed to track exploitation and the amounts due.

When a copy is suspected, identify the elements reproduced and preserve evidence of the disputed use before choosing a response. Mio/USM makes recognisable reproduction of protected creative elements decisive; overall visual impression is not the copyright infringement test.