Romanian Cable Operators Frown At Proposed 12% Copyright Fee

The Romanian Cable Communications Association warned that an increase from 2% to 12% of the remuneration for copyright and other rights, demanded from cable communications operators by authorities, does not comply with European practices and will bring a 10% increase in subscription fees.

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Radu Petric, president of the association, presented Thursday in a press conference the complaints of the over 100 cable operators, who serve some 3.5 million subscribers, regarding the manner in which negotiations unfolded with the eight collective management structures, who represent copyright holders – singers, actors, directors, etc.

According to current legislation, every three months the association negotiates with the eight collective management structures the fees for copyright and connected rights which need to be paid from the revenues obtained through cable television broadcast.

Between 2005 and 2008 cable operators paid 2% per month, according to Petric. He added that at the moment, each month, the cable operators pay some EUR600,000 for authorship and connected rights, corresponding to the 2%.

However, on January 1, 2009, negotiations between the association and the collective management structures were resumed, and operators were asked to pay six times the amount paid so far, namely not 2% but 12%.

The association decided to take legal action against the increase in fee, Petric explained.

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