21.04.2017
ADVERTISING & EVENTS
When do you need to pay ZAiKS?
A radio in the supermarket, a TV in a hotel room, the music at a public event. We advise when it is required to pay fees to organizations that manage copyrights for using them. Generally, owners of hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, large-area stores are required to pay authors, performers, producers of phonograms and videograms through [...]
17.03.2017
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
“I, Robot” – can the development of robotics and artificial intelligence be regulated by the law? (part one)
A robot may not harm humanity, or by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm – this superior law formulated many years ago by Isaac Asimov was regarded as a manifestation of futuristic thinking. Today it's no longer a question of the future, but reality. An era begins, during which we will be surrounded by [...]
28.02.2017
ADVERTISING & EVENTS
A concert musician is not always an artist
The Supreme Court ruled a single performance of a concert by a musician, a member of the orchestra, does not create a composition – we can not speak in such cases about the result, but only about due diligence. The Supreme Court held that in such cases the organizer and the musician are not bound [...]
20.02.2017
ADVERTISING & EVENTS
How not to get your idea for an event stolen? Basic principles for the protection of concepts.
Although it might seem the idea itself is not enough to be able to take legal action to protect it, in fact, sometimes it is possible. All you need is the right tools. And of course, knowledge how and when to properly use them. Everything starts with an idea. From the idea that evolves into [...]
15.02.2017
FILM, MEDIA & GAMING
Record in Polish cinemas: the most popular movies of 2016.
Polish cinemas sold almost 52 million tickets last year, a record for the decade! Polish productions were chosen by 13 million people, and the most watched film was Pitbull. Dangerous Women (Pitbull. Niebezpieczne kobiety) And since the film industry is especially close to us, we will take a look at the last year’s “box office,” [...]
27.01.2017
FASHION, CULTURE & ART
The Court of Justice of the EU on twice the appropriate remuneration under the Act on Copyright and Related Rights
The judgement issued on 25 January 2017 (Case C-367/15, the OTK Association v. Polish Filmmakers Association) considered as compatible with EU law the provision of the act of 4 February 1994, on Copyright and Related Rights which allows the holder of copyrights to request from the infringer of these rights twice the sum equivalent to [...]
25.01.2017
PERSONAL RIGHTS AND MEDIA CRISES
Dear entrepreneurs, disputes with consumers do not have to end up in court
More than two weeks ago, the law on extra-judicial consumer dispute resolution came into force, designed to introduce a quick and inexpensive way of solving disputes, uniform throughout the EU – and will also be important for e-commerce. Over time we’ll see whether and how the new system will work. The act on extra-judicial resolution [...]
13.01.2017
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
Retention and storage of telecommunications data under special supervision
The Court of Justice ruled that the imposition of a general and undifferentiated obligation to retain telecommunications data by telecommunication operators is incompatible with the EU law. Member States will have to adapt national legislation to the provisions of the Community. Retention and storage of such data should be an exception, rather than a rule, [...]
21.12.2016
FASHION, CULTURE & ART
Composers strike (back)
Musicians and composers working in the US market stand up for yours and their royalties. Under the Copyright Act of 1976, the creators of works created in the 70s and 80s more and more often take steps to recover the property rights to their works. Recently, such an action was taken by composer Ennio Morricone. [...]
13.12.2016
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – will it be better from a tax perspective?
In January 2017, the so-called small act of innovations will enter into force, under which entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of the new tax preferences for research and development (R&D). This is the next step which is to bring Poland in line with other EU countries where such solutions are not new (although [...]
21.11.2016
PERSONAL RIGHTS AND MEDIA CRISES
Dear journalists, the freedom of speech has its limits!
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a judgment in the case of Dorota Kania v. Poland, which confirms that journalists must assume responsibility for their words and cannot hide behind the freedom of speech. Especially when they abuse it. In the judgment handed down on 4 October 2016 (application No 44436/13), the ECHR [...]
09.11.2016
BRAND & DESIGN
The simplicity of the sequence of two sounds is not enough for the EU’s trademark for sound.
Brazilian media group Globo Comunicação e Participações filed a complaint against the European Union Intellectual Property Office's (EUIPO) refusal of the registration forthe EU trademark in the form of a sound (ECJ Judgment of September 13ht, 2016 in T-408/15 case). The basis for the absolute refusal was... the simplicity of the sequence of two sounds. [...]
