Moldovan state to strengthen copyrights of authors, co-authors of musical works

Chisinau, 13 April /MOLDPRES/ - The term of protection of a musical work ceases 70 years after the death of the last survivors of the lyricist and composer, no matter whether they were nominated as co-authors or not, under a draft on amendment and completion of the law on copyright and related rights, approved by the cabinet of ministers today.

“The rights of the singer to authorship, name and observance of the integrity of the interpretation is protected for an indefinite term,” the draft unveiled by the State Intellectual Property Agency (AGEPI) also says. The singer’s copyrights are protected during at least 70 years after the date when the oldest audio recording was made. The document sees the terms of protecting the copyrights in other cases as well.       

The draft also stipulates punishments for the violation of copyrights, such as recovery of damages inflicted to the harmed side, including the failed income, collection of the profit illegally got by the person who violated the copyrights. Also, the person infringing on the copyrights runs the risk of paying “compensations worth from 500 to 500,000 lei for each violated right.”     

The draft’s informative note says that the amendments proposed by AGEPI will contribute to the adjusting of the national provisions to the European and international ones in the sector.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)