Legislative definition for “intellectual property”
A definition for “intellectual property” is provided by a recent bill of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs titled “Regulations concerning superior education, research, primary and secondary education and other provisions”. Αccording to article 15 para. 7 of the said bill “intellectual property [corresponds to] copyright and industrial property, and includes indicatively economic and moral rights deriving from protected works, know-how, trademarks, patents and utility models.”
Τhe definition in question serves, in principle, as a tool of legal interpretation, mainly regarding the bill and the provisions amended by the latter (esp. those of the law Nr. 4310/2014). However, this is one out of few instances in Greek law where the term "intellectual property" is defined by a legal provision.
Creation of digital library with available-for-use content depicting objects of cultural heritage
Hellenic Ministry of Culture draws new policies regarding the use of content depicting Greek cultural heritage owned by the State, such as pictures and videos of archeological sites, museums’ exhibits and monuments. More precisely, theMinistry plans the creation of an online digital library, from which any interested person or entity (e.g. photographers, film makers, magazines, TV channels) will have easy access to high quality content (pictures or videos) against the payment of a low fee. This will practically dispense users from demanding and obtaining the prior authorization from Ministry of Culture, which is in principle necessary for the use of the said content, since the sole payment of the respective fee of use will suffice.
It is noted that the authorization in question is not linked with copyright law, given that the depicted objects of cultural heritage have generally fallen into the public domain. Indeed, according to article 46(1) of the Law N.3028/2002 for the protection of Antiquities and of cultural heritage in general “a prior authorization is needed for any production, reproduction and public communication or creation of databases with pictures of casts, copies or images of monuments belonging to the State, buildings that are either located in archeological sites and historical places or isolated, movable objects located in public museums or exhibitions, made by any entity or person other than the State, the Fund of Archeological Resources and the Organization of Greek Culture Promotion S.A for direct or indirect economical or commercial purposes, with any manner and means, including electronic and digital means, internet, telecommunication or other networks.”
Forthcoming legislative action(s) in collecting management
Legislative action should take place soon in the field of collective management of copyright and related rights, Ministry of Culture states. Deputy Minister of Culture Mr. N. Xidakis, answering to an opposition MP, said that the relevant presidential decree is expected to be voted soon. According to this, extended controlling and sanctioning powers will be attributed to the Hellenic Copyright Organisation, including penalties imposition to non compliant Collecting societies with legal requirements related with, especially, drafting and publishing of royalties pricing. In addition, Mr. Xydakis remarked that the transposition of the European Directive 2014/26/EU “on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market” will be implemented much earlier than the deadline of 10 April 2016.
http://www.e-typos.com/gr/politismos/article/122444/neo-thesmiko-plaisio-gia-tin-pneumatiki-idioktisia/
Photo (c): opensource.com | Licensed under CC BY- SA
Thousands of counterfeit goods found in Athens
Οn 2 April 2015 Police forces detected thousands of counterfeit products of famous brands such as bags, belts, wallets, sunglasses etc. in an apartment located in Athens.
In total, 28.755 counterfeit goods have been found and confiscated. The suspects were arrested and led to the Public Prosecutor accused for violation of the law regarding unfair competition (Law no. 146/1914), trademark infringement (Law no. 4072/2012) and copyright infringement (Law no. 2121/1993).
Sources: http://attikipress.gr/tag/%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1/
http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=691461
Photo credits: (c) Failfax County, Licesed under CC BY-ND 2.0
1st Fashion Law Conference in Athens!
A very interesting conference on Fashion Law, will be held in Athens on 14 May 2015, under the auspices of the Greek Industrial Property Organisation and the Hellenic Copyright Organisation.
Among others, a session on "Fashion and Intellectual Property" is on the schedule.
Fashioning the Law Conference
The HUB Events
5, Alkminis str.
Athens
For more information see: www.fashionlawconference.com