Entertainment Law at Slovenia
Slovenia's entertainment industry is governed by a robust legal framework that addresses various aspects, including copyright protection, media regulation, and audiovisual production incentives.
Key Legal Framework:
Copyright and Related Rights Act: This Act protects the rights of authors and performers over their creative works. It defines copyright as the exclusive right of the author to exploit their work, encompassing both moral and economic rights. Moral rights protect the personal and reputational interests of the author, while economic rights pertain to the financial exploitation of the work. The Act also outlines the rights of performers, including the right to object to any distortion of their performance and the right to remuneration for the use of their performances.
Media Act: In December 2024, the Slovenian government approved a new Media Act, aiming to ensure comprehensive information and freedom of expression in the evolving media landscape. The Act introduces measures for greater transparency of media ownership and state advertising, mandates labeling of artificial intelligence usage in media, and establishes procedures for assessing media company mergers to protect media diversity and editorial independence. It also addresses the spread of hate and intolerance and introduces financial assistance schemes for media development.
Slovenian Audiovisual Centre Act: A draft law proposing the establishment of the Slovenian Audiovisual Centre (ZaSAVC) is under public consultation until February 7, 2025. The Centre aims to merge the Slovenian Film Centre and Viba Film Ljubljana, enhancing support for audiovisual production. The draft law proposes increasing financial incentives for audiovisual productions, offering a monetary reimbursement of 30% of direct production costs incurred in Slovenia, aiming to attract both domestic and international productions.
Recent Developments:
Implementation of EU Copyright Directives: Slovenia has aligned its copyright laws with EU directives, ensuring fair remuneration for audiovisual authors. The legislation facilitates the collection of royalties for the use of works across various platforms, including broadcasting, online uses, and video-on-demand. This positions Slovenia among EU countries with advanced mechanisms for protecting the rights of film directors and screenwriters.
For comprehensive and up-to-date information on entertainment law matters in Slovenia, consulting the official government websites or seeking legal advice from professionals specializing in Slovenian media and entertainment law is recommended.
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