Other state institutions as well as non – governmental and international organizations are involved in copyright and related right protection.
State institutions
Enforcement of copyright and related rights in Latvia is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior, mainly the 7th unit of the Economic Police Department – Intelektuālā īpašuma tiesību aizsardzības nodaļa.
The State Revenue Service Principal Customs Office is also involved in the protection of copyright and related rights Intelektuālā īpašuma aizsardzības nodaļa. The task of the unit is to appraise the applications of the holders of the rights in respect to possible infringements of their rights as well as coordinate the work of the territorial customs offices of the SRS on the whole territory of Latvia in combating release of counterfeit and pirate articles.
From 2006 the Intellectual Property Council composed of the State Secretaries of the Ministries involved in the protection of intellectual property, Prosecutor General and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is operating. The goal of the Council is to coordinate and promote the activities of the administrative authorities in the fields of copyright and related rights, protection of databases, trademarks and geographical indications, patents, designs, protection of plant varieties and topography of semiconductor products.
The intellectual property group of experts, where both the state authorities and the non-governmental organizations are represented, is also operating. The goal of the expert group is to provide discussion on topical issues of copyright, related rights and other rights of intellectual property prior to their examination at the Intellectual Property Council.
Non – governmental organizations
Organizations that administer economic rights on a collective basis
Pursuant to Section 63 of the Copyright Law the protection of economic rights of right holders of copyright and related rights if such rights can not be ensured on an individual basis or if such protection is difficult, shall be conducted by a collective management organization.
Collective management organizations are formed by the authors, whereas collective management organizations for related rights - by performers, film and phonogram producers.
From September 1, 2004 the organization may carry out collective management of economic rights only after it has received a permit issued by the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry of Culture also carries out supervision of the organizations administering economic rights on collective basis.
Copyright and Communication Consulting Agency/Latvian Copyright Agency (AKKA/LAA)
AKKA/LAA is an association founded by authors, representing more than 3300 Latvian authors as well as 120 members of copyright organizations from other countries.
AKKA/LAA has received a permit from the Ministry of Culture to carry out collective management of economic rights of the authors.
- In respect to:
- Public lending;
- Administration of public lending on behalf of other organizations;
- Public performance (pursuant to Chapter 63, Paragraph Five, Sub-paragraph 1 of the Copyright Law);
- Retransmission by cable (pursuant to Chapter 63, Paragraph Five, Sub-paragraph 3of the Copyright Law);
- Resale of original works of visual art;
- Reproduction for personal use;
- Administration of reproduction for personal use or on behalf of other organizations;
- Publishing;
- Public performance (except public performance pursuant to Chapter 63, Paragraph Five, Sub-paragraph 1);
- Release;
- Broadcasting;
- Retranslation;
- Providing access of society to the work by cable or in other form, so that it may be accessed individually in a chosen location and time;
- Reproduction;
- Rental;
- Hiring.
Contacts:
A.Čaka iela 97,
Riga, LV-1011
Phone : 7506131
Fax: e-mail: infoe-pasta simbolsakka-laa.lv
Internet home page: www.akka-laa.lv
Association of Performers and Phonogram Producers (LaIPA)
LaIPA is an association founded by performers and phonogram producers, representing 285 performers and 28 phonogram producers of Latvia, as well as 74290 foreign performers and 6609 foreign producers.
LaIPA has obtained a permit of the Ministry of Culture to carry out collective management of economic rights in respect to:
- Broadcasting, including simultaneous broadcasting on the electronic network and broadcasting only on the electronic network;
- Retransmission by cable;
- Communication (reproduction of phonograms in public places and communication of programs consisting of phonograms published for commercial needs);
- Reproduction for personal use;
- Rental and lease;
- Reproduction and distribution of phonograms published until May 15, 1993 (on behalf of the performers);
- Reproduction (on behalf of phonogram producers).
Contacts:
Mūkusalas iela 42,
Riga, LV-1004
Phone: 7605023
Fax: 7500039 e-mail: laipae-pasta simbolslaipa.org
Internet home page: www.laipa.org
Latvian Film Producers' Association (LKPA)
LKPA is an association founded by film producers, representing 29 film producers of Latvia.
LKPA has received a permit of the Ministry of Culture to carry out collective management of economic rights in respect to reproduction for personal use.
Contacts:
Elizabetes iela 49,
Riga, LV-1010
Phone: 7288147
Fax: 7288149
e-mail: festivalse-pasta simbolsnavigator.lv
Association of Professional Performers of Latvia (LaPAA)
LaPAA is an association representing 213 professional actors and self-employed artists.
LaPAA has obtained a permit of Ministry of Culture to carry out collective management of economic rights of performers (actors, self-employed artists) in respect to:
- Broadcasting, including simultaneous broadcasting on the electronic network and broadcasting only on the electronic network;
- Retransmission by cable;
- Reproduction for personal use;
- Reproduction;
- Providing access of society to the work by cable or in other form, so that it may be accessed individually in a chosen location and time;
Contacts:
Dzirnavu iela 135,
Riga, LV-1050
Phone/FAX: 7282393 e-mail: laipae-pasta simbolslaipa.org
Internet home page: www.aktieris.lv
Association “Atbalss”
Association “Atbalss” represents producers of erotic and porn films, as well as the largest organization in Europe for collective management of erotic and porn economic rights „GÜFA”.
The association has obtained a permit of the Ministry of Culture to carry out collective management of economic rights of producers of erotic and porn films in respect to:
- Rental and lease;
- Retransmission by cable;
- Reproduction;
- Providing access of society to the work by cable or in other form, so that it may be accessed individually in a chosen location and time.
Contacts:
Lāčplēša iela 87a,
Riga, LV-1011
Phone: 7505159
Fax: 7242538 e-mail: atbalsse-pasta simbolsversija.lv
Other non-governmental organizations
Latvian Committee of Business Software Alliance (BSA)
BSA is an international non-governmental organization, carrying out protection of software copyright and combating illicit software application.
Contacts:
Ķiršu iela 6,
Ādaži, LV-2164
Phone: 29488795
e-mail: bsae-pasta simbolsbsa.lv
Internet home page: www.bsa.lv
Latvian Music Producers' Association (LaMPA)
LaMPA represents the interests of editors and distributors of legal music recordings and combats piracy of music recordings.
Contacts:
Slokas iela 69,
Riga, LV-1007
Phone/FAX: 67459911
e-mail: ojarse-pasta simbolslampa.org.lv
International organizations
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO is an international organization, protecting the rights of intellectual property. Its seat is in Geneva (Switzerland). WIPO encompasses 184 member states, including Latvia.
Internet home page: www.wipo.int
Directorate General for Internal Market of the European Commission
Directorate General for Internal Market develops proposals for the EU legislation, supervises implementation of the EU legislation in the systems of national legislation of the member states, is also responsible for negotiations in respect to intellectual property in the framework of WIPO.
Internet home page: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/index_en.htm
