The Association Copyright and the National Association of Phonogram Producers and Performers, on behalf of more than 650 artists, composers, performers and other members, call on Parliament to postpone the approval of the draft law on copyright and related rights until expert reports from international organizations are in. The representatives of the two organizations criticize the proposed measures as being “against creators” and “in absolute incompatibility” with Moldova’s EU candidate status.
Composer Liviu Știrbu, president of the Association Copyright, told a press conference on Wednesday that opinions and reports on the draft law reveal a number of risks and procedural violations. “This won’t speak well for us in the context of Moldova seeking EU membership. In this regard, we are calling on our esteemed Parliament. Dear Members of Parliament, the creators and artists of the Republic of Moldova urge you to postpone the approval of the new law on copyright and related rights until we obtain the expert reports from the international organizations that AGEPI so far definitely does not want to obtain”, declared Liviu Știrbu.
Eugeniu Turuta, member of the Association for Reproduction of Copyrighted Works ADERO, says that the provisions of the draft law violate ownership rights and interferes in the internal affairs of collective management organizations; it also seriously worsens the position of copyright owners and the collective management organizations that represent them in relation to users, as well as in relation to public regulators. The draft law, he went on, removes safeguards for creators, owners of related rights and the entire collective management system by blocking and excluding price-setting. Another allegation is that the draft law gives “excessive powers” to the director general of AGEPI, who will “exclusively decide on all key issues of collective management”.
The singer and composer Ian Raiburg, member of Copyright, said that the artists want their copyright to be secured, as “the new law is against them”. “Dear Members of Parliament, please don’t rush and try to find a solution that will make us still feel like people with dignity in this country”, said Raiburg.
