06. 02. 2012

ANEM: RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOKOJ ABOUT TARIFFS

Belgrade, February 6, 2012 - Representatives of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) met today with the management of SOKOJ to discuss the Tariff of this organization for collective protection of copyright that was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia on December 23, 2011.

At the meeting, held at the initiative of ANEM, the participants agreed to continue negotiations so that adequate tariff of fees can be agreed with users. At the same time, the amounts of minimal fees will be the first subject to be discussed in negotiations. Without questioning the fact that the Law on Copyright and Related Rights stipulates that the tariff has to contain minimal fees, ANEM continues to insist that even these minimal fees must be established in accordance with the Law, i.e. that they should be appropriate to the type and manner of use of authors' works, to the significance of such use of protected works with regard to the revenue of users, as well as to the economic conditions and the environment in which radio and television stations in Serbia operate at the moment.

It has been agreed that negotiations be intensified in the following days, giving enough time to the SOKOJ Managing Board to respond to broadcasters' proposals. The Managing Board of SOKOJ will meet by the end of the week. ANEM calls on broadcasters, who have recently protested against the new Tariff, to offer specific and constructive proposals. At the same time, ANEM again emphasizes that the renewal of negotiations does not imply giving up on previously announced other measures and procedures that are available to the Association.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic