Changes to adjust Polish copyright law run counter to European Union norms
On Friday Sejm approved an amendment to the copyright bill to adjust Polish
law to the norms of the European Union (EU) law. Among the numerous changes
are a law prolonging copyright protection from 50 to 70 years, the
liquidation of the so called computer amnesty and the protection of
recordings made before 1949. However, the amendment consists of other
changes that can stagnate the audio-visual market in Poland. For example,
the artist will be the most important person in the whole process of
production of a work, and not a producer who finances the work. Also, it
creates an intermediary between an sender and receiver in the form of a
management organization representing for example the artist. During the
Friday session a few members of Parliament tried to get rid of this change
but were supported by only 26 colleagues. According to the European
Integration Committee (KIE) this change is contrary to European law.
(Gazeta Wyborcza, page 27) K.S.
