Albania

[AL] Regulator warns operators on broadcasting movies without broadcasting rights

IRIS 2017-7:1/10

Ilda Londo

Albanian Media Institute

The Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) warned operators through a statement issued on 5 May 2017 that they needed to respect intellectual property rights when they broadcast movies in their programmes. The monitoring efforts of the regulatory authority have indicated that operators do not always possess the broadcasting rights of the Albanian or foreign movies they broadcast. AMA’s statement emphasized that even though the regulatory authority had been drawing the attention of operators to this issue since October 2016, through official notes and imposing fines, audiovisual media in the country were still having problems observing copyright law.

The regulatory authority noted that, based on Act no. 97/2013 “On Audiovisual Media in the Republic of Albania,” all television broadcasters must broadcast movies while respecting the norms and terms specified in the contracts and agreements they have with other parties. The regulatory authority called on operators to observe these contracts and agreements, noting that the broadcasting of movies without a contract or agreement is an administrative offense, punishable by a fine. In cases where this offense is repeated, it can lead to restrictions in the license terms or even the license being withdrawn.

AMA also reported that the contracts sent to it by operators were under review and that the monitoring process of audiovisual media would ensure the proper implementation of these contracts.