The campaign against piracy and counterfeiting has begun - any unauthorized material after 15 August will be seized and offenders will be prosecuted

Task Force Against Piracy and Counterfeiting, established by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, has launched today the information and education campaign against piracy and counterfeiting, under the motto "Stop Piracy". All the informative campaign will be under the management of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, which is also heading the Task Force.

The campaign has started with the notification addressed to all persons, natural or legal, who make the production, distribution, sale of physical material, or place on Internet products which contain material protected by copyright, that are required to obtain contracts or relevant authorizations from the rights holders. Specifically, they are required to ensure that the products placed on the market, are not pirated products or infringe  copyright and related rights.

"The inspection of producers of products containing material that is protected by copyright, market, and Internet websites, will start from 15 August 2013.

The Task Force, through the participating institutions in its framework, Market Inspectorate and the Kosovo Police, will seize the pirated materials and equipment needed for their production, after 15 August 2013. Against  persons suspected that by their actions have infringed copyright and related rights, will be imposed administrative measures (under the Law on copyright and Market Inspectorate) and criminal (under the Criminal Code), " as announced today by all print media in Kosovo.

By its announcement, the Task Force also recalled the measures foreseen by the legislation, to all those who pirate and counterfeit.

According to the Law on Copyright, if the legal person within the scope of his activity or into business with others, uses without authorization Copyrighted work or subject matter of related rights, shall be punished by a fine from two thousand (2000) to ten thousand ( 10,000) Euros.

However, under the Criminal Code, anyone who violates copyright and related rights, shall be punished by a fine and / or imprisonment from 3 months to 8 years. Items and equipment for the production of products that infringe copyright and related rights shall be confiscated.

At its meeting held a few days ago, the Task Force Against Piracy and Counterfeiting agreed to cooperate with collective associations for the administration of copyright and the whole community during the campaign, in order to have a clearer picture of legal and natural persons who have pirated and counterfeited material. During this time, there will be various field visits aiming  to proclaim the legislation on protection of copyright, in particular the Strategy Against Piracy and Counterfeiting developed by MCYS and approved by the Government, months ago.

Task Force against counterfeiting and piracy in the field of copyright has the following composition:

The Director of the Office of Copyright and Related Rights, Chairman - Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Chairman;

The Chief Inspector of the Market Inspectorate - Ministry of Trade and Industry - Deputy
Chairman;

The Director of the Office of Industrial Property - Ministry of Trade and Industry;
The Director of the Directorate for law enforcement – Kosovo Customs
The Director of the Directorate for the investigation of Economic Crime - Kosovo Police;
The Director of the Directorate fo the investigation of Cyber Crime - Kosovo Police;
The Chief of the Agency for the Administration of Seized or Confiscated Assets- The Ministry of Justice.

In the meetings and work of the Task Force are invited to participate:
The Chief Executive of the Independent Media Commission;
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Regulatory Authority of Post and Electronic Communications
Institutions and other independent organizations.

Task Force Against Piracy and Counterfeiting

Notification

Today, with the decision of the Task Force Against Piracy and Counterfeiting,the Market Inspectorate, in support of the operating and investigation units of the Kosovo Police, has carried out the inspection of the entities dealing with the photocopying of books - printed materials that are protected by copyright.

During the inspections it was found that the majority of entities dealing with copying of written materials did not possess unauthorized material. To entities which are found pirated material, they are seized by the Market Inspectorate, and the Kosovo Police will proceed in the cases of violations to the competent prosecution.

We Inform rightholders and entities which make the production, distribution and sale of materials protected by copyright, that the Task Force against piracy and counterfeiting, will be operating and will take repeated actions in the market, by installing the system of protection of intellectual creativity and the war against piracy as a daily mission of state institutions.

The Task Force reports that the Kosovo Police has filed first criminal charges against copyright violators and the criminal procedure is ongoing in the competent prosecution offices and courts.

The Task Force recalls legal measures provided for infringement of copyright:

According to the Law on Copyright, if the legal person within the scope of his activity or into business with others, uses without authorization Copyrighted work or subject matter of related rights, shall be punished by a fine from two thousand (2000) to ten thousand ( 10,000) Euros.

Under the Criminal Code, anyone who violates copyright and related rights, shall be punished by a fine and / or imprisonment from 3 months to 8 years. Items and equipment for the production of products that infringe copyright and related rights shall be confiscated.