The State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) has taken note of a new series of public statements and accusations launched on a social media platform by the Association of Copyright Holders of Moldova “MORA” (A.O. “MORA”), which target the institution and, directly, the person of the Director General of AGEPI, Mr. Eugeniu Rusu.
AGEPI finds that the said statements are unfounded, lacking factual support and deeply biased, obviously part of the systematic defamation campaign initiated against the institution and its leadership. The institution has previously reacted publicly and transparently to similar accusations, including through the press releases of September 8, 2025 and December 23, 2025, available on the official website of AGEPI.
We reiterate with all responsibility that AGEPI and the leadership of the institution carry out their activity in strict compliance with the national legal framework, applicable international treaties and the commitments assumed by the Republic of Moldova in the European integration process. None of the accusations repeatedly resumed in the public space have been confirmed by official findings of the competent authorities, control reports or court decisions.
Essential clarifications
1. Regarding the methodologies for collecting and distributing remuneration
The contested methodologies were negotiated by representatives of authors/rightholders and users of various categories and adopted exclusively in accordance with the procedure provided for by Law No 230/2022 on Copyright and Related Rights (Law No 230/2022), within legally constituted negotiation committees. AGEPI does not unilaterally set tariffs, does not participate in the negotiation of the amount of remuneration and cannot substitute the will of the parties involved. The methodologies published in the Official Gazette based on the minutes of negotiations signed by the parties, under the terms and conditions provided for by law, are also accessible on the AGEPI page: https://agepi.gov.md/ro/content/metodologiitarife [1].
2. Regarding the control exercised over collective management organizations
Contrary to the statements made, AGEPI has constantly exercised its supervisory and control powers over CMOs. The control acts for the relevant periods, including 2021–2022, are public and unequivocally demonstrate that remunerations were collected and distributed for the benefit of rightholders by the CMOs approved according to the law, and the commissions retained by the CMOs were within the legal limits applicable at that time, which were unlimited prior to the adoption of Law No 230/2022. It should be noted that the current regulatory framework promoted by AGEPI has introduced the express capping of the management fee, significantly strengthening the protection of rightholders.
3. Regarding the alleged preference for certain private interests
The insinuations regarding the favoring of certain persons or entities are speculative and lacking evidence. AGEPI applies the same legal criteria in relation to all collective management organizations, and the decisions to approve, suspend procedures or refuse are legally motivated. Currently, several approved CMOs are operating on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, and other applications are under examination or the approvals have been refused and/or revoked in strict accordance with the law. AGEPI decisions issued in the collective management segment are published on the institution’s website under the heading “Collective Management” https://agepi.gov.md/ro/copyright/OGC [2].
4. Regarding the audio materials and news of a compromising nature and the insinuations regarding the introduction of biased amendments to Law No 230/2022
AGEPI categorically rejects the accusations of abuse made by the petitioners, who erroneously claim that the audio materials invoked would constitute evidence in this regard. These statements are completely inconclusive, given that all discussions held with rightholders, collective management organizations and users were public and transparent, being open to the participation of all interested persons.
The fragmentary use and out-of-context dissection of certain discussions in order to distort the subject matter and the messages transmitted has no value and represents exclusively an instrument of media pressure exerted on the institution, its leadership and the national and European experts involved in the reform of the system of protection and management of copyright and related rights.
The petitioners’ claims regarding the existence of biased amendments to Law No 230/2022 are also unfounded. The assessment carried out by the European Commission within the bilateral screening process confirms a high degree of harmonisation of the national legislation with the European Union directives in the field of copyright, including in the field of collective management of rights, which categorically contradicts these insinuations. Moreover, the constitutionality of certain provisions of Law 230/2022 in the part concerning the collective management system was reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which expressed itself on their constitutionality through Decision No 7 of 10.06.2025 (Case No 154a/2023).
AGEPI emphasizes that these public actions are initiated by the leaders of public associations that have a direct interest in destabilizing the situation in the field and coincide with the suspension or rejection of requests for approval of these public associations, including A.O. CANTORIUM and A.O. “MORA”. It should be noted that this latest attack by A.O. “MORA” came immediately after AGEPI issued Decision No 21/51 of 20.01.2026 refusing to approve A.O. “CANTORIUM” as a collective management organization. The refusal of approval is motivated in the factual part of the Decision, which also notes the relationship between A.O. “CANTORIUM” and A.O. “MORA”, as well as the connection of these organizations with the Russian Federation. Decision No 21/51 of 20.01.2026 is published on the AGEPI website, under the heading “Transparency”: https://agepi.gov.md/sites/default/files/comisia_ogc/Decizia_nr_21_51_20.01.2026_ro.signed_.pdf [3]
In this context, it is obvious that the true purpose of these attacks is to discredit the institution and remove the AGEPI’s leadership from the decision-making process, in order to protect private interests contrary to the public interest and to put pressure on AGEPI in order to make favorable decisions to approve the aforesaid associations.
The State Agency on Intellectual Property reaffirms its firm commitment to legality, transparency, impartiality, and the effective protection of the rights of authors, creators, and users. At the same time, AGEPI will not comment on matters outside its competence, which concern natural and/or legal persons and the relationships between them, and/or personal information or information that is the subject of other matters than those managed by the Agency and/or falls within the competence of other institutions.
AGEPI will continue to communicate openly, provide verified information and combat any attempt to manipulate public opinion in the interests of strengthening a modern, functional intellectual property system aligned with European standards.
At the same time, the institution reiterates its call for responsibility and rigor in public discourse, emphasizing that any attempts to subvert legal procedures through media pressure, personal attacks or denigrating narratives are incompatible with the principles of the rule of law and the functioning of an integrity public administration. AGEPI will continue to exercise its powers exclusively within the limits of the applicable regulatory framework, based on verifiable facts and legal procedures, without being influenced by defamatory campaigns or private interests.