Barcelona Seminar to Discuss Broadcasting Issues

Geneva, June 13, 2006
Media Alerts MA/2006/23

International experts, business leaders, academics, government delegates and policy makers will come together on June 21, 2006, in Barcelona, under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Catalan Broadcasting Council and the Barcelona Bar Association, to examine current technical, economic and legal realities in the field of broadcasting and identify areas for development.

The seminar entitled "The Proposed WIPO Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations: From the Rome Convention to Podcasting" is designed to provide a forum for discussion on intellectual property policies and strategies, including the use of copyright and related rights within the broadcasting industry.

The seminar, which is open to the public, will provide an opportunity for all interested participants to share their views on the possible impact of updating the rights of broadcasting organization which were last established in 1961 with the Rome Convention on the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations. Further information about the status of negotiations on this issue is available from: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/prdocs/2006/wipo_upd_2006_274.html).

The seminar is organized with the support of the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT), Association of European Radios (AER), Association of Spanish Commercial Radio (AERC), International Association of Broadcasting (AIR), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and the Audiovisual Producers Rights Management Organization (EGEDA). The seminar will be held at the Barcelona Bar Association, Calle Mallorca 283, Barcelona and will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The full program and registration details are available from http://www. wipo.int/copyright and http://www.audiovisualcat.net/. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English and Spanish.

Journalists wishing to cover this event are requested to contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO: Tel: + 41 22 338 8161 or 338 95 47; e-mail: publicinf@wipo.int.