The government has approved amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law which will allow the NEPLP to restrict access to websites that illegally publish copyright-protected content such as music, films, e-books and photographs, thus preventing content creators from receiving the remuneration they are entitled to. The amendments still need to be supported by the Parliament.
In an interview with Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" program, Ivars Āboliņš, head of the NEPLP, stressed that the planned changes are very important for the media environment in Latvia, as well as for musicians and the film industry.
"It will make it possible to block all film pages where we know people watch films and listen to music. Downloading illegal software, audiobooks, and computer games is also a big problem," he explained.
"The consumption of illegal content is very widespread - Latvia has long been ranked first or second in the European Union in the theft of intellectual content. This will put an end to that. Maybe not immediately, because the fight will not be easy, there are a lot of these pages, but within a year, a year and a half it should change the situation significantly," Āboliņš stressed.
According to a NEPLP study, one in four people in Latvia illegally uses or steals intellectual property. This is more common among young people.
To restrict access to websites that illegally use their works, authors or their representatives are currently entitled to file a lawsuit in court under the Civil Procedure Law. However, this option has rarely been used because it requires time and financial resources, the Ministry of Culture explains.
It is planned that in the future authors will be able to apply to the NEPLP with a petition for an alleged infringement. Upon receipt of such an application, NEPLP will require the content provider or hosting service provider to submit, within 15 days, documents confirming its right to publish the works in question on the website.
NEPLP will then be allowed to oblige the content provider or hosting service provider to stop the unlawful publication of certain works. At the same time, the NEPLP will have the right to decide to restrict access to a website if the Board finds that it is manifestly infringing copyright or related rights. This decision will be a general administrative act and will be addressed to all internet service providers.
The NEPLP will also be able to decide to restrict access to a copy of the website.
