The State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), in common with the EU Project “Support to Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights” in the Republic of Moldova, organized on 5 October the National Seminar entitled “Intellectual Property in the Audiovisual Field”. The event took place in the context of the first International Film Festival in the Republic of Moldova dedicated to science fiction films – RAVAC. The seminar was attended by experts from the EU Project, AGEPI specialists and specialists from the film industry and video production of the Republic of Moldova.

The event aimed to strengthen the knowledge of copyright and related rights in the audiovisual field in the Republic of Moldova.

In the opening of the seminar, AGEPI Deputy Director General Andrei Popa emphasized the role of intellectual property as a fundamental tool in creating an environment conducive to innovation and creativity. “We are currently witnessing a revival of national cinema. In order to better protect and promote Moldovan movies abroad and at home, it is vital that we can use all the levers in the creative industry,” added AGEPI Deputy Director General.

Foedinger Maximilian, the representative of the EU Project “Support to Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights” spoke about the EU Project support to beneficiary and partner institutions in achieving the objectives of strengthening the system of IPR enforcement in the Republic of Moldova in the context of DCFTA implementation, on the components of copyright and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, patents, etc. The expert has highlighted the importance of creative industries for the development of culture as well as the economy, as the share of business in this area in the GDP of European countries is increasing. Last but not least, creative industries provide artists with jobs. “Respecting and protecting the rights in creation is important to artists because they live in their work and motivate them to create farther, and art makes our lives more beautiful, strengthens people’s relationships,” said Maximilian Foedinger.

The participants then addressed a range of issues related to copyright and related rights in the creative industry, the system of collective management of copyright and related rights and legal regulation at European level of the rights of film and audiovisual producers. Finally, Laurentiu Oprea, expert of the EU Project conducted a workshop for specialists in the audiovisual area.

The Technical Assistance Project “Support to Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights” is funded by the European Union and is supposed to be completed in November 2018.