Copyright in the Digital Age: Stronger Measures Sought to Protect and Pay Creators

Today’s hearing at the Parliamentary Committee on Culture focused on protecting copyright in the era of digital platforms.

The National Center of Cinematography and the Central State Film Archive called for clearer measures against the unauthorized use of works and for guaranteeing payment to authors. Representatives of film and copyright institutions raised concerns over the use of artistic materials without authorization and without the corresponding payment.

“Today in Albania, Albanian actors, Albanian singers, Albanian artists, Albanian writers have not managed — and still cannot manage — to receive the income they are owed from the use of their works, from the sale of their works, from the broadcast of their works, because we have failed as a system,” said MP Ina Zhupa.

The same problem has been identified with the materials of the Central State Film Archive, which, according to director Eljan Tanini, are reused and published on social media without respect for copyright.

Another problem is the YouTube platform, from which authors have never received anything.

Tanini called for a stronger role of institutions in removing content published without rights, while also noting the extraordinary value of films and photographs as part of the national memory.

The National Center of Cinematography asked that the new law address more clearly the transmission and screening of audiovisual works on online platforms.

The Copyright Directorate assesses that the draft law introduces, for the first time, a dedicated structure and procedure for unauthorized uses on digital platforms.

Borana Ajazi, director of the Copyright Directorate, said the law is innovative because it addresses the use of copyright in the digital field and has a dedicated structure dealing with information posted without authorization.

The committee also raised the issue of the level of fines for entities that use music without paying copyright fees.

The committee asked the participating institutions to submit in writing, by September 30, the proposals and issues to be reflected in the draft law.