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Riga District Court rejects Culture Ministry's copyright claim for 973 Soviet movies

BC, Riga, 23.04.2014.Print version
The Riga District Court yesterday fully rejected the claim made by the Culture Ministry, in a dispute for copyright of 973 Soviet movies produced by Rigas Kinostudija, shot during the period from 1964 to May 4, 1990, informs LETA.

Aigars Berzins, press secretary of the District Court, indicated that in this way the ruling is contrary to that of the first instance court. A full verdict in the case will be available on April 25, and, in the next 30 days, available for appeal.

 

As reported, last year, Riga City Northern District Court acknowledged Culture Ministry's copyright for the mentioned movies, according to the personal rights of the film makers, but Rigas Kinostudija appealed the judgement.

 

At that time, the court recognized the Culture Ministry's rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the movies in any form, in compliance with the film maker's rights and the state's rights to receive royalties, if any of the movies are used by third persons.

 

The court of the first instance had ruled in favor of the Culture Ministry's rights to distribute, broadcast, rent or publicly lend the original movies or their copies, by complying with the authors' personal and property rights. Rigas Kinostudija was recognized as an unlawful copyright owner of the movies, and, by making a contract with Voxell Aps, has breached the neighboring rights of the state. The court has imposed a ban for Rigas Kinostudija to publish, reproduce and distribute these movies.

 

Rigas Kinostudija paid damages of EUR 41,999 in favor of the Culture Ministry.






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