Representatives of the Moldovan Rightsholders Association MORA say that the situation in the field of copyright is disastrous and a large part of the holders from the Republic of Moldova, but also from other countries do not benefit from due remuneration. It happens while, according to them, “particular elements” collect tens of millions of lei annually based on the work of people of culture.
In a press briefing at IPN, Constantin Pădure, MORA general director, stated that the Association was created at the end of 2021 in response to the challenges faced in the field of copyright and related rights, but also as a result of people of culture’s complaints about illegalities in the field. As they asked for compliance with the law and notified the responsible national institutions, they became the targets of harsh attacks.
According to him, MORA investigated multiple irregularities and found out that a number of associations are controlled by the same person, through family members and trusted persons. The current leadership of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) when coming into office declared that it wanted to bring order in this sector, but this didn’t happen.
Chairman of the Literary Fund of Moldovan Writers Nicolae Rusu, a member of the Board of AO MORA, questioned the work done by AGEPI. “Money that is not claimed go to an unknown direction. About 30 million lei is transferred. Only now we have learned out about this enormous amount. And the authors – 3,000 in number – stay and wait. Now I wonder, maybe the current government will still think about what to do in this situation, if this state body is still needed,” noted Nicolae Rusu.
Artistic director of the National Philharmonic “Sergey Lunkevich” Marian Starcea, a member of the Board of AO MORA, said the responsible state institutions should come up with measures and bring things in the field of copyright in order once and for all. “We hope, however, that the situation will change and that the institutions that have all the buttons will solve the problem of Moldovan authors and these will be fairly remunerated, and not only the authors from Moldova, but also those from abroad,” said Marian Starcea.
Sergiu Postică, a businessman, said that the authors are the ones who are entitled to remuneration and he is from the camp of those who contribute to this remuneration. “My indignation stems from the fact that the same people hold the same positions from which this money is collected. The name of the companies only changed, while the people remained ‘clean’. What happened earlier is forgiven,” stated the businessman.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news made from the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
