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400 million euro French support scheme for digitizing historic films found to be permissible state aid

By  |  March 22, 2012

The European Commission has approved a €400 million French support plan for digitizing, restoring, and preserving historic films. The covered films include those produced up to 1999, and especially those whose money-making prospects are highly uncertain or very long-term. The amount of aid to devote to each film will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for digitization can choose the company that will be performing the technical work; the company does not need to be established in a Member State.

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    The French scheme is in line with Article 107(3)(d) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU), which allows state aid to be granted for cultural purposes under certain conditions. The Commission found that the aid will promote the preservation of European film heritage, as well as its dissemination with the assistance of new technology.

    Full content: EC Press Release

     

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