Albania is preparing to undertake important changes in the field of copyright, as part of the process of harmonization with European Union legislation.
According to the new draft law, which is expected to bring substantial updates, it aims to strengthen the protection of online works and increase accountability for platforms that distribute online content.
For years, copyright violations in Albania have come mainly from television broadcasts and local media, which have often used pirated materials without authorization. With the expansion of media and portals on the Internet, the situation has become even more challenging, due to the uploading of videos, music and images without first obtaining the relevant rights.
Another recent concern is related to platforms that operate on the basis of user-generated content (UGC) on their social networks, which often avoid legal liability by claiming that they do not control the materials that are distributed.
To address these challenges, the new draft law provides for the approximation of three important EU directives:
– Directive 2014/26/EU on collective management of copyright and cross-border authorisations of musical works online;
– Directive 2019/790/EU on copyright in the digital single market;
– Directive 2019/789/EU on internet broadcasting and television and radio retransmissions.
The amendments aim to facilitate cross-border licensing of musical works, regulate the functioning of collective management agencies, establish new mechanisms for the protection of online content and guarantee fair remuneration for authors. The draft law is also expected to create new institutional structures for the fight against online piracy.
An important element of the reform is the reorganization of the Copyright Directorate, which currently operates within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports. According to the explanatory document, the current structure is not sufficient to implement the new requirements related to the management of copyright in the digital age.
With these changes, Albania aims to strengthen the legal framework, protect creators and ensure a fairer and more regulated digital market, in line with European standards./ Monitor
