Director of public association “National copyright office” (ORDA), popular singer and composer Adrian Ursu believes that the copyright situation is improving in Moldova.

 

Early this week, he recalled at a press conference that “since 2013 the copyright protection system was in crisis, for various reasons, primarily because of the confrontation between four organizations of collective copyright management”.

 

“Some of them acted, genuinely wanting to help and support the authors, and others, unfortunately, had other interests”, said Ursu.

 

According to him, the new leadership of the State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) heard authors and performers’ requests and made the first important steps to protect copyrights.

 

“AGEPI has obliged all collective copyright management organizations – AsDAC, ANCPI, COPYRIGHT and ORDA to fulfill their obligations to make public savings for 2013-2015, and to separate this monetary remuneration between authors and performers. We – ORDA and COPYRIGHT, have jointly formed a center for licensing and copyright management and we expect it from other organizations as well”, said the singer.

 

ORDA Chairperson Viorica Nagacevschi noted that things have changed with the emergence of new AGEPI leadership.

 

“Now artists and authors are able to obtain money reward collected from authorship, which was not possible until now. AGEPI actions give us hope that the copyright will be respected, and we hope that they will not stop at what has been accomplished”, she said.

 

According to Nagacevschi, AGEPI has also revoked the license of the unfair organization of collective copyright management, seizing cost from consumers. The authors have never received it. After some investigation it turned out that the amount is more than 1.7 million lei.

 

“One more plus is the signing of memorandum on cooperation in the field of copyright management between AGEPI and organizations AsDAC, ORDA, and COPYRIGHT. We plan to create a collection institution, so that the money will be divided between the authors. Furthermore, I want to mention that our doors are open to performers”, she said.

 

COPYRIGHT Chairperson Liviu Stirbu said that the process of copyright management is very complex and, unfortunately, not all fulfill their obligations, including division of monetary compensation.

 

“We cannot leave everything as it was before. We are pleased with the AGEPI's support and we urge to act in the same direction”, he said.

 

Chairperson of the national association of restaurants and entertainment venues MAR Anetta Zasavitschi noted that users have faced many problems with regard to payment as for the copyright payment, because several organizations have contacted them with invoices for payment of copyright remuneration.

 

“Thanks to AGEPI, we have the center, which is the only “reservoir”. We were going to sign one contract with one organization that fulfills the obligations on remuneration transfer to the authors”, she said.

 

Chairperson of the artists association Nelly Ciobanu noted that finally Moldovan artists have found a strong partner - AGEPI leadership, which “makes every effort to ensure transparency in respect of copyright”.