The village of Pohorelá in Banská Bystrica Region announced that it will not need to pay an invoice of €62 to the SOZA copyright protection organisation for a performance of folk songs sung by a children's assembly at a Mother's Day event this year and a St Nicholas Day event last year on December 6, Katarína Tomandlová, the marketing manager of SOZA, told the TASR newswire on June 11.
"The SOZA Committee chairman approached the mayor of Pohorelá who explained to him in a matter-of-fact and constructive way that these pieces performed at the events are not subject to copyright protection. SOZA accepted the explanation," said Tomandlová. She added that both parties have agreed to take steps to prevent similar incidents from taking place in the future.
Culture Minister Marek Maďarič announced last week that the Culture Ministry plans to table an amendment to the Copyright Act that will allow organisers of public events to prove retroactively that no material subject to copyright was used publicly – even if no prior notice was given.
“SOZA abused a loophole in the law, according to which it doesn't have to inquire as to what the content was displayed or played in an event when the organisers failed to give prior notice," stated Maďarič, as quoted by TASR.
"I'm saddened to learn that the case was not resolved with good will. SOZA gave itself a very bad reputation. It could have proceeded in a much more gracious manner. On the other hand, I don't want to create the impression that we don't need organisations for copyright protection," Maďarič said last week, as quoted by TASR.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
