On Wednesday, March 4th, 2020, the Audiovisual Media Authority organized a round-table on “Copyright in Audio and Audiovisual Broadcasts”, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Culture, SUADA, agencies ALBAUTOR, FMAA, AKDIE, Gramm – A, State Inspectorate for Market Supervision, National Cinematography Center, Central State Film Archive, Albatrade Plus, local and national audiovisual subjects, experts, etc.
AMA deemed that this round-table was of major importance as a definite effort to initiate discussion and provide expertise, because only through open and direct communication can issues be realistically assessed and stakeholders overcome challenges and obstacles through better coordination and cooperation.
During his opening speech, the head of AMA, Mr. Gentian Sala underlined that copyrights have been included in the 3-year strategy of the institution, which had just been concluded and the round-table was the first consultative meeting on such an important document. “We consider that by the end of the next three years, issues with copyrights and broadcasting will have been sorted out. This will be achieved by coordinating and arranging our engagement and contribution, as well as enhancing the legal framework, practices and methodologies.”
Representatives of institutions, copyright agencies and AMSPs expressed their appreciation of AMA’s initiative and they also set forward various issues, requiring interventions. They also noted cases when users of audiovisual content failed to understand the obligations they had to pay, lack of communication among stakeholders, unclarities with obligations estimation methodology for using copyright, lack of specialized prosecutors and judges in this area, transformation of law-protected content by some audiovisual operators, etc.
Participants made two proposals on following-up with this important discussion. The first one was related to the establishment of a group of experts, who would prepare a package of definite proposals, and the second one was concerned with the organization of a second round-table at the technical level to review and analyze stakeholders’ proposals.
Audiovisual Media Authority
March 4th, 2020
