Italy

[IT] Agreement Signed Between RAI and SIAE for the Remuneration of Rightsholders

IRIS 1999-3:1/29

Roberto Mastroianni

RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, Geneva

On 4 February 1999 the Italian public broadcaster RAI signed an agreement with the Società Italiana Autori Editori (authors collecting society SIAE), who holds a monopoly in the Italian market, to set the conditions for the application of an "equitable remuneration" for the transmission of Italian and European cinematographic and audiovisual works on the three channels of RAI.

The main features of the agreement are the following: it applies for a term of three years; the remuneration is differentiated according to criteria such as the channel on which the work is broadcast, the hour of transmission and the category of the work in question. For every transmission of the work the rightsholdersincluding authors and neighbouring rightsholders such as directors and screenwriters - will receive a remuneration the amount of which is fixed by the agreement. As to the categories of works covered, the agreement applies also to series, TV movies, documentaries, and cartoons. The agreement is intended to be the first of a series of contracts that SIAE will sign with all the other broadcasters as well as with all those who use the audiovisual repertoire.