BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES PARLIAMENT TO RATIFY THE TREATY ON AUDIOVISUAL PERFORMANCES

The communication of audiovisual products like music files, video clips and films may be banned. The Bulgarian government submitted a proposal to Parliament for ratification of the treaty on audiovisual performances, known as the Beijing Treaty. The text of the treaty envisages restrictions and will make the use of torrent trackers illegal.

So far the torrent trackers were not considered violations of the law, because in reality the copyrighted songs and films did not go through the trackers. The new ban however will make it illegal for both the people who provide the files and those who download them via trackers.

The Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances was signed in June 2012. It is a multilateral treaty regulating copyright for audiovisual performances and ensures protection for performers’ rights against unauthorized use of their performances.

Although signing the treaty, the European Union had serious concerns that the freedom of communication in the internet might be affected.

Under the treaty, the term of protection granted to performers is a period of at least 50 years.