Polish Media Unite Forces. “A very important moment.”
The Association of Employers of Digital Publishers is launching. “Its main task is to work together for the development of online media and to represent publishers in the regulatory process,” it was conveyed. The union includes TVN media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery.
The signatories of the Digital Publishers Employers’ Association include representatives of TVN Warner Bros. Discovery, WP Group, Ringier Axel Springer Polska, Agora and ZPR Media Group. Immediately after its establishment, the Association joined the Lewiatan Confederation. It is a Polish business organization that brings together more than 4,100 companies with more than 1 million employees.
Union of Employers of Digital Publishers
The Union of Digital Publishers’ Employers was established at the initiative of the presidents of WP Group, Ringier Axel Springer Polska, Agora and Interia. “Interia plans to formally join the Union after its registration with the National Court Register,” the company said.
As explained, the union’s goal is to represent the interests of its members, primarily by influencing the shape of the Polish and European legal system. “The legal framework and regulations should ensure equal and fair conditions for domestic publishers to develop and compete in the European digital market, especially in their relations with global technology companies,” the statement stressed.
According to the announcements, the Association’s plans also include activities in the field of collective management of related rights. “This will be possible after a law is passed, implementing the EU’s 2019 Directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market, and after the relevant requirements provided by the relevant regulations are met,” it reads.
“A very important moment in the history of the Polish media market.”
Maciej Kossowski was appointed president of the Association of Digital Publishers’ Employers. The supervisory board includes: Jacek Świderski (WP Group), Aleksander Kutela (Ringier Axel Springer Polska), Bartosz Hojka (Agora), Katarzyna Białek (ZPR Media Group) and Dorota Żurkowska (TVN Warner Bros. Discovery).
According to Kossowski, “this is a very important moment in the history of the Polish media market.” “There are a number of organizations that unite media, but what was missing was an institution focused exclusively on digital publishing, while it is already the largest part of this market,” noted the president of the Association of Employers of Digital Publishers.
“There are many important topics waiting for us. Poland still hasn’t implemented the Directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market, we have work ahead of us to comply with the EU DSA regulation, in the not too distant future regulations on artificial intelligence,” Kossowski pointed out.
“I am also convinced that the development of legal protection of user privacy and its business implications, such as the withdrawal of 3rd party cookies, will require further regulation. The collective voice of digital publishers must be clearly heard in this discussion.” he added.
Who is Maciej Kossowski?
As highlighted, Maciej Kossowski is a manager with many years of experience in the digital media industry.
He gained experience in Poland’s largest media companies. Among other positions, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Onet.pl S.A. Group, VP Sales Strategy and VP Media Product at the Wirtualna Polska S.A. Group, Board Member at Polska Press Sp. z o.o., Board Member at Infor PL S.A. He also held the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IAB Poland.