National Seminar with International Participation on the Perspectives and Actual Challenges to Audiovisual Industry in the Digital Era

The Creative Industries and Intellectual Property Department, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Ministry of Culture organized two days National Seminar with International Participation on the Perspectives and Actual Challenges to Audiovisual Industry in the Digital Era.

At the opening of the Seminar

The Seminar was opened in the Large Conference in the presence of Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector for Scientific Research Activity, Prof. Dr. Borislav Borisov, Honorary Rector and Honorary Professor of UNWE, Director of the University Center for Intellectual Property, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladya Borisova, Head of the Creative Industries and Intellectual Property Department, Mrs. Denitsa Sacheva, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Rumen Dimitrov, Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Rafael Vazquez, Legal Counselor, Copyright Division at the WIPO, Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov, Advisor at the Ministry of Economy, Mrs. Sofia Vladimirova, Chairwoman of the Council for Electronic Media, legal advisors of companies, television and film producers, film directors, managers, etc. In the seminar participated international and Bulgarian lecturers from the WIPO, International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), Spanish Actors' Rights Association (AISGE), representatives of the Collective Rights Management Organization, business, creative societies, lecturers, etc. 

Mr. Stoyanov, Mrs. Sacheva, Prof. Borisov, Assoc. Prof. Borisova, Prof. Goev, Mr. Vazquez, Mr. Dimitrov, Mrs. Vladimirova (from the right to left)

Prof. Goev greeted the organizers and participants in the Seminar on behalf of the Rector of UNWE Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev. He outlined that the Creative Industries and Intellectual Property Department had always provided a wide participation of lots of organizations in its scientific events. It is important to hear the opinion of all persons concerned because only through dialogue and discussions can be achieved good results, pointed out Prof. Goev. 

Prof. Goev is greeting the participants in the Seminar

Prof. Borisov featured two major fields for discussion: the legal one – about the legal framework for creative industries and the economic one – about the business in the field of creative industries. The Honorary Rector commented the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, new creative industries in the frameworks of intellectual industries, digitalization and internet. He pointed out that the initiative for the digital cinema of 2002 had united five of the largest film companies in the USA. 

Prof. Borislav Borisov

Prof. Borisov emphasized on an eloquent fact over the last years: the creative industries form 3,14% of GDP at annual budget financing on the amount of nearly 1,4 – 1,5 %. It is to say that the system of cultural and creative industries forms 2,5 times larger share in the GDP than what is provided for it by the Republican budget. The tendency won`t change, the percentage of creative industries to the material production will increase. So we should know them for being able to manage them, pointed out Prof. Borisov. 

Participants in the Forum

The problems in the sphere of intellectual property are a priority No.1 for the Ministry of Culture, pointed out Rumen Dimitrov. The Deputy Minister examined the rapid development of Bulgarian fiction and documentary films over the recent years (annually nearly 20 fiction films more), tendencies in the Bulgarian series, prestigious awards in international contests. That`s why the Seminar is well-timed, outlined Mr. Dimitrov and expressed his thankfulness to the UNWE and WIPO for the organization of the Forum. 

Mr. Rumen Dimitrov

Mrs. Denitsa Sacheva paid attention to some important topics related to the school education, mass downloading of films and music by the torrent websites, issues of teachers to work in the digital environment, barriers to the creative entrepreneurial thinking development of adolescents. She specified the activity of the Ministry of Education in that field, upcoming forums and conferences in April 2018 during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

Mrs. Sacheva and Prof. Borislav Borisov

About the adoption of specific policies and measurements in the field of creative industries spoke Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov. He read a Greeting address to the participants in the Forum on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev. The topic is important because the intellectual property contains an economic aspect. It should be emphasized more on the opportunities not on the issues, expressed the statement of the Ministry Mr. Stoyanov. 

Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov

On behalf of the Director General of WIPO Francis Gurry, Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE a Greeting address to the participants in the Seminar was read by Mr. Rafael Vazquez. He outlined the actuality of the topic and his contentment to take part in the discussion on the audiovisual industry digitalization. The creative industry is a huge source of employment and today`s Forum opens new opportunities to develop the intellectual property products through digitalization, pointed out Mr. Vazquez (in the picture below). 

On behalf of Vezhdi Rashidov, Chairman of the Culture and Media Committee at National Assembly it was read a Greeting address to the participants in the Seminar.

A summary of topics for discussion was made by Assoc. Prof. Vladya Borisova. She outlined that the intellectual property had been the engine of economy and classified the creative industries in three categories: copyright, innovative and creative. Assoc. Prof. Borisova cited data of European research to point out the shares generated by the creative industries in the GDP of EU for the period 2012 – 2013. She cited also data about Bulgaria for 2009 and according to them the copyright industries form 3,7% of GDP, generate 4,2% of Added Value and provide 5,17% employment. According to the data of WIPO the tendency for 2016 is the same – an increase is registered, outlined the Head of the Department.

The major topics for the Seminar were the following: International Legal Framework for Audiovisual Works; Digital Market Challenges to Authors, Performers and Producers of Audiovisual works; New Business Models in the Digital Market of Audiovisual Content; Infringements of Rights over Audiovisual Works and Resolving Disputes.

During the second day of the Forum it was held a Round Table Conference where issues and perspectives of film industry were presented and discussed.