Programme for Protection of Creative Activity, Copyright and Related Rights
The implementation of the Programme started in 2013 following the provisions of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, which provides that 25 per cent of the compensatory remuneration collected in accordance with the procedure established by the Government shall be allocated for programmes for the support of creative activities and programmes for the protection of copyright and related rights.
Two basic objectives of the Programme:
1. promote creative activity by financing projects of creative activity aimed to increase creativity and rightful dissemination of results of creative activity, proper remuneration of art creators and respect for intellectual property, develop the young generation of art creators and build more favourable conditions for the development and visibility of the Lithuanian creative industries;
2. promote the modernisation of protection of copyright and related rights by financing projects for the protection of copyrights and related rights, taking into account new digital technologies and their impacts on methods of creative expression and the dissemination, as well as social needs related to the development of the rightful digital accessibility of creations, which would ensure proper protection of copyright and related rights, raise the respect of the society towards intellectual property and intolerance towards its illegal use.
The programme foresees the criteria of financing artistic activity, allowing 30 percents of the total Programme budget for creative projects and 70 percents for authors and related rights protection projects. The following projects may be financed from the Programme‘s resources:
1) organisation of creative activities, such as, master classes for professional young authors and performers, camps for creative education, competitions, festivals and other events aimed to develop professional creative activity, also participation of young authors and performers in International creative competitions of authors and performers, rightful promotion of movies in the digital environment (computer networking (internet) and other means).
2) projects for protection of author rights and related rights, such as, creation and development of open databases of collected and systemised information about works of literature, science and arts, objects of related rights, rights‘ holders and managing of the rights, preparation and implementation of International and national scientific conferences and workshops on the rights of intellectual propriety, programmes aimed social awareness raising on the right of intellectual propriety, as well as non-formal education programmes for children and youth, organisation and implementation of anti-pirate actions (social ads, messages in media etc.), aimed to promote rightful use of creations and build respect for intellectual propriety.
According to the Copyright Law, 25 per cent of the compensatory remuneration for private copying for personal use and collected in accordance with the procedure established by the government must be allocated for creative programmes and programmes for the protection of copyright and related rights. Cultural, educational and scientific institutions can apply to this programme for funding. The programme has supported many projects, for example, training for law enforcement authorities dealing with intellectual property, an international conference
The protection of creative activity, copyright and related rights, the projects, aimed to contribute to development of creative activity and strengthening of copyright protection, were financed. 147 projects were implemented in 2014-2015.
During 2014-2015 there have been allocated 2 343 511 Eur.
The profile of the Programme was amended in 2016 in order to elucidate the objectives of the Programme and improve the administrative process (specifying term dates of application and reporting processes etc.). Having amended the Programme profile the objectives became relevant and it became easier to administrate the Programme.
The Internal Audit Division of the Ministry of Culture carried out the internal audit of the evaluation of the administration of the Programme for protection of creative activity, copyright and related rights, aimed to improve the administrative procedure.
The Internal Audit Division of the Ministry of Culture proposed to set the terms dates for the submission of reports, specification of budget estimates, to foresee sanctions for the implementers of the projects in case of violations of administrative procedure and preconditions. These recommendations were taken into account when amending the Programme profile.