The companies represented by IMPALA, the Independent Music Companies’ Association, are willing to improve the system of private copying levies applied in around 20 countries to reproduction equipment (blank CDs, MP3, computers, printers and scanners), particularly in terms of harmonisation of the system in the EU. IMPALA, which represents the interests of Naïve in France, !K7 Records in Germany and BIMA in Belgium, among other companies, also considers that “compensation” for rights holders through a levy on such equipment is “the fairest way to maintain the right to private copying while remunerating rights holders”. Manufacturers represented by Digital Europe seek an “alternative” to the system or a “reform”. Contacted by Europolitics,they declined to comment before holding direct discussions with former Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner António Vitorino, designated by the European Commission to relaunch dialogue by rights holders, the industry and consumers - a dialogue that so far has failed to produce results (see Europolitics4398).